BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 9 Hales leads England to victory in INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX 2 – 9, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 QFCA chief executive REGION 10 BUSINESS 1 – 5, 15 – 20 second 16,131.00 9,683.62 30.89 ARAB WORLD 10, 11 CLASSIFIED 6 – 15 expects non-oil share in -197.00 +196.91 -0.83 INTERNATIONAL 12 – 25 SPORTS 1 – 12 -1.21% +2.08% -2.62% Qatar GDP to be at 70% one-dayer Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXVI No. 9991 February 7, 2016 Rabia II 28, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Record win for Nasser al-Attiyah Qatar ‘one In brief of the safest ARAB WORLD | Terrorism Tunisia completes barrier with Libya Tunisia yesterday completed the countries construction of a barrier along its border with Libya, months after attacks on its national museum and a beach resort that killed dozens of tourists. Defence Minister Farhat Horchani told reporters in Tunis in the world’ that the construction of berms and water-filled trenches marks “an For the past five years, Qatar has Shamal security areas also recorded important day” for Tunisia in its stood first in terms of security a decline of 18% in crime rates. struggle against “terrorism”. Two among the nations of the Middle Last year, the authorities have attacks claimed by the Islamic State East region in the Global Peace been able to tackle the phenomenon group last year killed 59 foreign Index of begging by capturing 590 people, tourists, with Tunisian off icials most of them coming from outside saying the assailants had trained atar has further consolidated the country. in conflict-ridden Libya where IS is its position as one of the saf- There has also been increased ac- active. Page 11 Qest countries in the world tivity in the field of international Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah celebrates his record 61st Middle East Rally Championship leg win in Doha when he won the with a 49% drop in the number of security co-operation with organisa- ASIA | Calamity Qatar International Rally yesterday. Partnered by co-driver Mathieu Baumel, the Qatari ace beat the previous mark of UAE great major crimes reported in 2015 com- tions and law-enforcement agencies, Strong earthquake Mohamed bin Sulayem who accomplished 60 leg wins in the regional championship between 1996 and 2002. Sport Page 1 pared to the previous year. particularly in the field of combat- For the past five years, Qatar has ing drug trafficking. The Ministry topples buildings stood first in terms of security among of Interior has received a number of At least 12 people, including an the nations of the Middle East region letters of appreciation for its help in infant, were killed and hundreds in the Global Peace Index. the seizure of narcotic substances injured when a 6.4-magnitude According to the figures released by and dismantling smuggling gangs by earthquake struck southern the Ministry of Interior (MoI) yester- exchanging information. The most Taiwan early Saturday. A 17-storey Family entertainment centre day, there has been a significant fall prominent of these agencies include apartment building collapsed in of 49% in the number of lawsuits and British National Agency for the fight Tainan City’s Yungkang district. It cases of major crimes such as mur- against organised crime-NCA (Na- was home to about 250 people. der, aggravated assault, rape, kidnap- tional Crime Agency), the Interna- Several other buildings in Tainan opens at the Pearl-Qatar ping, robbery and arson last year. tional Criminal Police Organisation collapsed or were damaged by the The “Highlights of Security & (Interpol) and the US Drug Enforce- quake that struck at 03:57 am (1937 By Joseph Varghese take off and land an aircraft. These are Services Statistics Report-2015” said ment Administration. GMT Friday). Page 15 Staff Reporter real attractions for kids and young- the number of complaints received by The average emergency response sters.” state security agencies in 2015 fell by time for fire accidents in 2015 was There is no entry fee at Megapolis. 3.5% in spite of a population growth less with an average of eight minutes SYRIA | Personality egapolis, an entertainment Trager said: “You can come in and of 9.2% compared to 2014. compared to 8.6 minutes in 2014, Bashar al-Assad’s centre that caters to all age watch the games and visit the restau- However, the number of cyber though there was an increase in the Mgroups, has opened its doors rants. If you need to take part in any of crimes witnessed a rise of 52% in number of incidents in 2015. The to- mother dies aged 86 to the public. the games, you need to buy a card of 2015, due to the spread of technology tal number of fire accidents in 2015 The mother of Syrian President Situated in Medina Centrale at the diff erent denominations. This can be and social media networks and other was 5,483 while it was 4,925 in 2014. Bashar al-Assad, Anissa Makhlouf Pearl-Qatar, it is the “fi rst complete used in any of the gaming areas. The tools “as people used them without Traffic safety indicators show a al-Assad, died yesterday at the family entertainment centre of its games start from QR15 and the most the precaution required in dealing 4.8% decline in 2015 in the number age of 86. The former first lady kind”, according to company offi cials. expensive game is the indoor golf at with such media”. of road accident deaths for each and widow of ex-president Hafez The 6,000sqm facility off ers a wide QR369.” Some geographical areas witnessed 100,000 residents per year. al-Assad died in Damascus, the range of games and indoor activities The offi cial said the company a noticeable decline in crime ra- Traffic violations such as wrong off icial Sana agency reported. in addition to a number of restau- might use virtual reality technology tios. In the Capital Security Depart- parking, not leaving safe distance Throughout Syria’s five-year war rants. in some of the activities. “We are in ment area, for instance, the decline between two vehicles, not wear- and even when her husband Hafez Speaking to Gulf Times yesterday, Alexander Trager:“We are in discussions to provide virtual real- in lawsuits and major crimes ranged ing seat belt also declined by 4.7%. ruled the country with an iron fist, Alexander Trager, assistant general discussions to provide virtual reality ity features in some of the games and between 69-73%. The Dukhan Se- While there were 1,720,735 violations she had kept a low profile and was manager of operations at Megapolis, features in some of the games and other activities. This might be imple- curity area didn’t report any lawsuit in 2015, the number for the previous rarely mentioned in the media. said the centre aims to provide per- other activities.” mented in several areas, such as fi ght- or major crime. The Al Rayyan and Al year was 1,805,072. fect entertainment for all family ing, driving and sports activities.” members at one place. and we have brought most of the star The centre, Trager said, provided a Ministry handles 1,686 complaints NEPAL | Trade “We have a number of places in attractions under one roof,” he ex- huge karaoke collection. and queries concerning personal abuse Traffi c resumes Qatar off ering diff erent games and plained. “We have over 60,000 titles in dif- indoor activities. So, we thought of Trager stressed that the entire fam- ferent languages. These include Eng- The Ministry of Interior handled 1,686 persons surrendered, showing their will- across border bringing all such facilities under one ily could spend quality time at Mega- lish, Arabic, French, Spanish, Italian, complaints and queries concerning ingness to leave Qatar. A total of 30,874 More than a hundred cargo umbrella. It resulted in this concept polis, engaging in diff erent activities. Hindi and Chinese, among others. personal abuse during the year 2015. persons were detained for violation of vehicles crossed the -Nepal “We have various attractions such as People can come and sing along with About 8,900 persons and companies the laws of the country. border yesterday, for the first time bowling, indoor golf, darts, billiards, the karaoke and this can be used es- that violated human rights and The emergency number 999 received since it was closed 135 days ago. karaoke, fl ight simulators, a hi-tech pecially during parties and family or labour laws were blacklisted or banned 1,943,653 calls that included requests About 70 petrol tankers headed gaming arcade and a dedicated action social events. in 2015. Some 10,068 travel tickets for help in traffic situations, diseases, in- into India to fill up with fuel, which zone - all under one roof. In addition, “We want to establish and develop were issued to expatriates who were juries, fire incidents and other personal has been scarce in Nepal since we have a number of outlets off er- Megapolis as a brand in Qatar. We unable to pay for their journey to their matters during 2015. the closure. The main border ing delicious food, snacks, juices and are not competing with other en- home countries, the Highlights of The National Command Centre issued district off ice at Birganj said transit beverages,” he continued. tertainment facilities in the country. Security & Services Statistics Re- 35,260 appreciation letters to members resumed after residents dismantled The centre will teach golf through We may set up such centres in other port-2015 issued by the ministry said of the public to acknowledge their co- the camp set up by an ethnic group indoor training using simulation, he places and also open Megapolis cen- yesterday. operation in sharing valuable informa- that has been protesting against noted. “Similarly, people can learn - tres in other countries later,” he add- During inspection campaigns 2,145 tion during the last year. Nepal’s new constitution. Indoor golf at the centre. through the fl ight simulation - how to ed. Page 28 Advanced sewage treatment plant is operational

he fi rst sewage treatment plant population of more than 900,000 peo- within Qatar. The sludge is dewatered, 50 picnic areas with interconnecting in Qatar to use advanced tech- ple by the year 2020. processed through the thermal dryers roads and a bird watching lagoon which Tnology has become operational. Among the plant’s modern features to fi nally produce dried pellets which is considered to be the fi rst of its kind The QR3.6bn Doha North Sewage are advanced biological treatment are bagged and stored for distribution. in Qatar. Treatment Works (DNSTW), which processes as well as ultra-fi ltration, The construction of the TDP is al- The roads and picnic areas are com- will produce high-quality reclaimed which is an ultra-membrane fi ltration most completed and is going through pleted and the bird watching lagoon is water for irrigation, is located in Umm technique that separates large mol- fi nal commissioning. The TDP includes expected to be fi nished this quarter it- Salal Ali, 25km from the heart of Doha. ecules and small granules from the four thermal dryers which are currently self. The remaining irrigation pipe work In terms of the volume of works car- water. The plant also uses ultra-violet being tested utilising sludge gener- and planting are in progress as well as ried out, it is one of the most important technologies for waste water treat- ated at the Doha North Sewage Treat- the construction of artifi cial mounds projects implemented by the Infra- ment. ment Works and the Doha West Sewage across the area, which is expected to be structure Aff airs at the Public Works The plant has started receiving sew- Treatment Works. Two of the thermal completed by mid 2017. Authority (Ashghal). age fl ows from the main pumping sta- dryers are expected to be handed over The total cost of the Doha North The plant uses advanced treatment tion in Northern Doha (PS70) located in the second quarter of this year while Sewage Treatment Works project, in- techniques such as ultra-fi ltration and in Al Kheesa. The sewage fl ows are es- the other two will be ready in the third cluding the money spent on the design ultra-violet technologies to produce timated 46,000 cubic metres per day. quarter. and build contract, is approximately high quality water for reuse in irriga- The Doha North Sewage Treatment The Doha North Sewage Treatment QR2.49bn and the operate and main- tion purposes. Works became fully operational in De- The thermal drying plant for the sludge generated from the sewage treatment process. Works is the fi rst facility with a com- tain 10-year contract which is worth The fi rst phase of the project includes cember 2015, after a full year of inspec- prehensive odour control system to about QR1.14bn. the construction of the main treatment tion and testing processes completed Thermal Drying Plant (TDP) to proc- cording to international standards. minimise the impact on the surround- The project contracts were awarded plant for the reception and treatment by the Qatari Civil Defence and other esses sludge, which is the solid mate- The TDP will receive and treat sludge ing environment. The buff er zone sur- to Keppel Seghers Engineering Singa- of sewage, which has been designed entities. rials generated from the sewage treat- generated from not just Doha North rounding the plant will be carefully pore LTD. The whole project is expect- to treat up to 245,000 cubic metres of A major part of the second phase of ment process. Through the process the Sewage Treatment Works but also from landscaped to form a lush-green oasis ed to be completed in the third quarter sewage per day, serving a projected the project was the construction of a sludge is readied for safe disposal ac- all the other sewage treatment works that includes around 95,000 trees and of 2017. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, February 7, 2016 QATAR

Minister meets US ambassador

Minister for Administrative Development, Labour and Social Aff airs HE Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi met in Doha yesterday with the US ambassador to Qatar Dana Shell Smith. Talks dealt with bilateral relations and means of enhancing them.

Leaders greet British queen, Qatar role in promoting New Zealand governor-general human rights hailed HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdul- QNA Dr Burayzat said Qatar’s platforms of the UN to lah bin Hamad al-Thani and Doha attention to human rights protect the Palestinian na- HE the Prime Minister and and freedom is not limited tion from the arrogance of Interior Minister Sheikh Abdul- to the internal level, “as we the Israeli occupation, re- lah bin Nasser bin Khalifa resident of the are witnessing Qatar’s ac- store their usurped rights, al-Thani yesterday sent cables Arab Network of tion at the regional and in- and provide them with a of congratulations to Queen PNational Human ternational levels intended decent living. Elizabeth II of the United King- Rights (ANNHRI), Dr to embody and support of He also hailed the re- dom on the occasion of the Musa Burayzat, yesterday human rights for a better construction process un- anniversary of her accession praised Qatar’s great role life.” dertaken by Qatar in the to the throne. in preserving and pro- In this context, he Gaza Strip. HH the Emir, HH the Dep- moting human rights in pointed out to Qatar’s role Qatar’s charitable ef- uty Emir and HE the Prime all fi elds, and stressed the aimed at achieving peace forts are being led around Minister also sent cables role being played by Qatar in Darfur and supporting the world in Asia and Af- of congratulations to the to enhance human rights the Palestinian cause re- rica to provide all types Governor-General of New Zea- internally and externally. gionally and internation- of assistance dealing with land Sir Jerry Mateparae on In an interview with Ar- ally, referring to Qatar’s human rights and decent the occasion of his country’s abic Al Rayyah, multiple calls across the living, Dr Burayzat said. National Day. Gulf Times Sunday, February 7, 2016 3 QATAR

An MEC inspector putting up the closure notice. MEC shuts down seafood restaurant for two weeks

he Ministry of Economy and should mention, on product labels, a The ministry will refer violators of Commerce (MEC) has an- clear description of diff erent goods laws and ministerial decrees to the Tnounced the administrative and their ingredients and not post any competent authorities for appropriate closure of a seafood restaurant for two misleading or false statements. action in order to protect the rights of weeks over the sale of Samman fi sh la- The restaurant was directed to pub- consumers. belled as Hamour. lish the decision on its administrative The MEC has urged all consum- Inspectors from the ministry fi ned closure on the ministry’s website and ers to report violations to its Con- the restaurant and shut it down in line two at its own expense in sumer Protection and Anti-Com- with Article 7 of Law No 8 of 2008. line with Article 3 of Law No 8 on con- mercial Fraud department and send The inspection was part of the sumer protection. complaints and suggestions through MEC’s eff orts to monitor commercial The MEC has stressed that it is de- the hotline (16001), e-mail (info@ activities and crack down on consumer termined to protect consumer rights, mec.gov.qa), Twitter (MEC_QA- right violations, price manipulation, noting that it will intensify its inspec- TAR), Instagram (MEC_QATAR) counterfeiting and sale of substandard tion campaigns to crack down on all and its applications available on goods, the ministry said in a statement. violations of the consumer protection iPhone and Android devices (MEC_ The law stipulates that suppliers law. QATAR). Gulf Times 4 Sunday, February 7, 2016 QATAR

Qatar to host conference on problems of dual disability in March

atar will host the second The conference, to be held and its leadership’s attention to representatives of civil society perts from Norway, Spain, the ence will discuss a number of He praised the eff orts ex- international conference from March 6 to 9, aims at cre- people with disabilities. organisations and the govern- US, New Zealand and the World topics, including dual disability erted by Qatar to improve the Qto discuss the problems ating a proper climate for per- Speaking to Qatar News ments of all Arab countries, in Federation of the Deafblind from the perspective of the In- conditions of persons with dis- of the deaf and blind (dual dis- sons with disabilities for more Agency (QNA), president of the addition to 100 participants (WFDB) are taking part in the ternational Convention on the abilities in general, and those ability), organised by the Doha- interaction and partnership, and Arab Union of the Blind Dr Kha- from Qatar representing all the conference. Rights of Persons with Disabili- with visual impairment in based Arab Union for the Blind. highlighting the role of Qatar lid Ali al-Nuaimi said nearly 100 relevant authorities, and ex- Al-Nuaimi said the confer- ties, signed and ratifi ed by Qatar. particular.

Ties reviewed

Bangladesh Parliament Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury met with Qatar’s ambassador Ahmed bin Mohamed al-Dehaimi in Dhaka. Talks covered bilateral relations and ways of developing co- operation between the two countries, as well as issues of common concern.

QRC training session on disaster management

QNA According to a press re- Doha lease issued by QRC, this course is designed to build national staff ’s capacity in he Qatar Red Cres- disaster preparedness and cent (QRC) organ- response and prepare qual- Tised a one-week ifi ed teams to intervene in training session on the case of accidents. principles of disaster man- This course is one of agement in which 51 work- the most important train- ers from Hamad Medical ing courses organised by Corporation in addition to QRC and represents the a number of students from fi rst phase for volunteers medical schools took part. to learn the basics of pre- The training session paredness and response aims at providing the par- in disaster management, ticipants with the neces- the QRC said, adding that sary skills and capacity to it comes as part of an in- deal with various emergen- tegrated training pro- cies and disasters. gramme. Gulf Times Sunday, February 7, 2016 5 QATAR Ministry employees screened for diabetes

he Ministry of Econ- omy and Commerce T(MEC), in associa- tion with Action on Diabe- tes (AoD), hosted a diabetes screening programme for its employees. The activity is part of a major workplace diabetes screening programme con- ducted by AoD, a public- private partnership initiated and funded by Maersk Oil Qatar. The screening took place at the Ministry’s offi ces in Lusail over the two days and was managed by nurses and educators from the Supreme Council of Health, Hamad Medical Corporation, Pri- mary Health Care Corpo- ration and Qatar Diabetes Association. The screening activity is a key strand of AoD’s ongoing eff orts to tackle diabetes in Qatar. These eff orts focus on educating members of the community and those at risk on the factors that contrib- ute to the condition, and em- powering them to avoid and manage it through early detection. A custom-made screen- ing bus visited the Min- istry’s offi ces, fi tted with The AoD diabetes screening bus stationed at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. a range of testing equip- ment to allow analysis of low-up recommendations. Dr al-Anoud al-Thani, ing public knowledge of the blood glucose, HbA1C, Tareq al-Sada, director, manager, health promotion risk factors, signs and com- cholesterol, BMI and blood and com- and non-communicable plications associated with pressure. munication, MEC, said: diseases at the Supreme diabetes.” Those people tested at the “This partnership is in line Council of Health, said: Last year, more than bus received a personalised with our commitment to “It is hugely encouraging 5,600 employees were analysis of the results with supporting our employees’ that so many people from screened throughout Qatar colour-coded graphs high- health. Since diabetes is one the Ministry of Economy as part of AoD’s workplace lighting risk levels, as well of the biggest health chal- and Commerce have tested health campaign through as recommendations and lenges in Qatar and around themselves for diabetes partnerships with 20 of advice to improve these re- the world, this partnership at the Action on Diabetes Qatar’s largest private and sults over time. A diabetes is a great example of the screening bus. This is a huge public sector organisations health audit was provided government’s commitment achievement, and shows that included Hassad Food, to the Ministry along with a to social responsibility and that Action on Diabetes is Kahramaa, Qatar Insur- fi nal report with aggregated supporting the people of making real progress in rais- ance Company and Qatar screening results and fol- Qatar.” ing awareness and increas- University. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, February 7, 2016 QATAR

Training programme for commercial arbitrators

The second phase of a training programme GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre. to equip commercial arbitrators for The course aims to prepare a new professional certification will begin today at generation of Qatari and GCC arbitrators Children attend camp to learn the Qatar Chamber headquarters. who can deal with commercial disputes It will be held under the theme, “the outside the courts and help settle them procedures and management of arbitration accordingly. cases”, over four days, addressing a This will also ease the load on courts and number of theoretical and practical issues. speed up the resolution of related cases, about diabetes management The training programme is conducted by which will eventually reflect positively on Qatar International Centre for Conciliation business transactions in the country and and Arbitration in co-operation with the region. atar Diabetes As- health problems, as well as sociation (QDA), a providing eff ective ways to Qmember of Qatar deal with them. Foundation for Education, QDA organised the Al Ba- Science and Community wasil Camp in partnership Development (QF), hosted with Aspire Academy, with the 16th annual Al Bawasil support from Action on Di- International Camp for abetes, El Jaish Sports Club, children with diabetes. and Ooredoo. It was de- The camp was held signed to help participants from January 31 to Febru- build confi dence and boost ary 5 at Aspire Academy. self-esteem in managing It brought together more the condition, with the ul- than 60 children between timate goal of maintaining the age of 7 and 11 from a good quality of life and 14 diff erent countries, in- avoiding diabetes-related cluding Qatar, Saudi Ara- complications. bia, Sudan, and Egypt. “The objective of the Throughout the week, camp is to create a safe and children participated in a loving environment for range of fun-fi lled educa- children with diabetes. We tional activities, sharing want to teach them how experiences and improv- to control the disease and Children taking part in a fun activity at Al Bawasil Camp. ing their knowledge of di- avoid health issues to en- abetes self-management. able them reach their full Ahmed Hatim Khotairat, a healthy lifestyle. I also re- run by a specialised diabe- The camp supports QF’s potential. The camp allows a participant from Palestine, ally enjoyed workshops like tes health team who teach mission to strengthen participants to exchange commented on his experi- ‘Honouring Parents’, as it the children how to utilise healthcare provision in ideas and also share their ence. “I benefi ted a lot from encouraged me to love and insulin management tech- Qatar. This includes taking own unique experiences,” the camp; I learned how to respect my parents even niques and nutrition, as well proactive measures to help said Dr Abdulla al-Hamaq, choose healthy foods, and more.” as maintain their general Qataris manage prevalent executive director, QDA. the importance of adopting The Al Bawasil Camp is health. beIN signs deal to launch six new channels

eIN, a leading pay TV and enter- and studios, the statement notes. J B Perrette, president of Discov- tainment platform in the Mena The signing of the latest deal will ery Networks International, said: “In bregion, has announced the sign- allow beIN subscribers to watch not partnership with beIN, we are pro- ing of six channels from Discovery only their favourite Mena chan- viding a stronger off er to our viewers Communications, fi ve of which are nels like Fatafeat, which will now and commercial partners, and look exclusive to beIN in the region. be available for the fi rst time across forward to working alongside beIN Discovery Kids HD, Dlife HD, the region in HD, but also new con- to increase the reach of our content DMAX HD, DTX HD and a new HD premium channels in the Middle tent that has not been available in in the Middle East and Africa.” version of Fatafeat will be available East and North Africa,” the network the region before, the network has As a result of this partnership exclusively on beIN, with Animal has said in a statement. stressed. agreement, beIN will be enhancing Planet HD also joining the line-up. beIN launched its entertainment Yousef al-Obaidly, deputy CEO of its factual, reality, edutainment and “These channels will further bouquet in November in the Mena beIN Media Group, said: “Partner- kids’ programming. strengthen beIN’s portfolio, off er- region. Since the launch, the net- ing with Discovery Communications beIN has said it expects to “sig- ing a wide choice of world-class work has strengthened its content further strengthens our position as nifi cantly grow” its pay TV platform content to its subscribers. beIN will off ering by partnering with mul- the number one family entertain- in the region in 2016 on the back of be the exclusive platform for the fi ve tiple global TV brands, channels ment platform in the region.” further additions to the portfolio.

Gulf Times 8 Sunday, February 7, 2016 QATAR

Expat jailed for QC to implement relief lifting woman’s FB picture

Doha criminal court changing insults and ac- has sentenced an cusations, according to the projects for refugees A expatriate to two daily. years in jail for taking a The defendant was at- atar Charity (QC) has signed fi ve and Mohamed Adrdour, relief aff airs expert when somebody dies will be solved through woman›s picture from tempting to start a rela- agreements with the Islamic Dawa at QC. the Waqf project, through which a piece of her Facebook account and tionship with the woman, QOrganisation and Union of Relief and The agreements aim to transform poor land will be provided for burial. posting it on an account it was found. Development Associations in Lebanon to Lebanese families and Syrian refugees from Al-Kuwari said, “QC always makes sure created by him. The court convicted the implement relief projects for Syrian refugees consumers into producers through the im- to reinforce the spirit of co-operation and The man has also been defendant of violating the in Lebanon. plementation of productive projects. These partnership among humanitarian organisa- directed to pay a fi ne of privacy of the woman and The projects will be carried out at a cost of projects can be moved to Syria after the crisis tions for the benefi t of displaced Syrians and QR30,000, local Arabic misusing her private in- around QR5mn, divided equally between QC is over so that they can contribute to its re- refugees. I thank the Islamic Dawa Organi- daily Al Sharq has reported. formation. It also ordered and the Islamic Dawa Organisation. building. This will be done through the Sanad sation, QC’s strategic partner, and Union of The matter came to light the confi scation of all the The agreements are part of what humani- project, which will help the neediest Syrian Relief and Development Associations, QC’s when one of the woman’s electronic equipment used tarian, Gulf, Islamic and international or- Off icials at the agreement-signing ceremony. families in Lebanon bear the burdens of life. executive partner in Lebanon.” friends came across her in the case. ganisations pledged to do on the sidelines of Through the Rakezet Hayah project, the On his part, al-Sheikh said: “We are will- photograph on a stranger›s The court, though, the fourth annual conference organised by Abdulqader al-Sheikh, director-general of families will enjoy stability, while the Or- ing to sign more agreements with QC in the account. He contacted dropped charges pertain- the union, and sponsored by QC, in Istanbul the Islamic Dawa Organisation; and Hussam phans Sponsorship project will help address diff erent fi elds of humanitarian work. We the defendant. However, ing to insults based on a a few days earlier. al-Ghali, general co-ordinator for the Union the issues faced by orphaned Syrians in thank QC for sponsoring the fourth annual it soon led to an argument request from all the parties The main objective of the conference was of Relief and Development Associations in Lebanon. In addition, the Islamic Preachers conference and its commitment to releasing and the two started ex- involved. to mobilise support for the benefi t of Syrian Lebanon; in the presence of Mohamed bin Sponsorship project will help deal with the fi eld reports to donors and fi nanciers.” refugees in Lebanon. Ali al-Ghamdi, executive director for inter- psychological problems associated with asy- Al-Ghali commended the eff orts made by The agreements were signed by Yousef national development; Mohamed Rashid al- lum and raise awareness through advanced QC for the benefi t of Syrian refugees in Leb- bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, CEO of QC; Hammad Ka’bi, QC’s relief head, board of directors; methods. The problems Syrian refugees face anon and the Lebanese themselves. Bodies of maids repatriated

he bodies of three their way to Abu Samra. Indian housemaids On Friday, the bodies of Twho were killed in Pothula Pushapavathi (52) two diff erent incidents in and Kunche Manga (52), the last 10 days were re- both of whom died of in- patriated over the last two haling smoke from a faulty days, sources in the com- room heater at their accom- munity said. modation in Kharitiyat area Yesterday, the mortal were sent home. The inci- remains of Badagu Ram- dent took place on January alakshmi, a 32-year-old 29. The two maids were said woman, who was killed in to be relatives. a road accident on Janu- Humanitarian workers ary 27, was flown to Hy- Abdul Salam Palakkad and derabad. Two Qataris be- N Ali thanked the sponsors longing to one family were of the deceased and the In- also killed in the accident dian embassy for helping which took place while the them in repatriating the family members were on bodies.

Two Chrysler models recalled

he Ministry of Econ- follow-up by the ministry omy and Commerce to ascertain the extent of car Thas announced the dealerships’ commitment to recall of 2005-2007 Grand follow up vehicles’ defects Cherokee and Jeep Com- and repair them to protect mander models due to a consumers’ rights. defect in the ignition lock The ministry also cylinder. stressed that it would co- The ministry said that ordinate with the dealership the recall being made in co- to follow up maintenance operation with United Cars and repair operations and Almana (UCA), the deal- will communicate with er of Jeep vehicles, came customers to ensure im- within the framework of plementation of the proce- ongoing co-ordination and dures to fi x defects.

Ministry approves agriculture loans

he Ministry of Mu- of agricultural equipment, nicipality and Envi- local Arabic daily Al Sharq Tronment (MME), in has reported. co-operation with Qatar Statistics show that there Development Bank, has ap- are currently 1,340 farms proved the fi nancing of 15 registered in the country new agricultural projects at with 839 active ones. Some 1-1.5% interest rate. 36,122 hectares are covered The projects will involve by such farms with around the production of vegeta- 21,673 hectares of arable bles and fodder, creation of land. Tomato is the main lo- greenhouses and irrigation cal agricultural product in networks and the purchase the vegetable category. Gulf Times Sunday, February 7, 2016 9 QATAR Minister visits Cultivated Square KQMC obtains accreditation

E the Minister of Mu- nicipality and Environ- Hment Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi, right, yesterday visited the Cultivated Square of Qatari Agricultural Products. He was accompanied by a number of senior Ministry offi cials. The Minister was briefed on the workfl ow at the Cultivated Square. He also listened to the views of some citizens and resi- dents about the services the arenas provide. The Cultivated Square of Qatari Agricultural Products KIMS Qatar Medical Centre (KQMC) has announced that it has obtained the operates on Thursday, Friday Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International (ACHSI) accreditation. and Saturday every week in With this, KQMC becomes the first medical centre in Qatar to achieve the quality order to provide citizens and milestone, it has said in a statement. The off icial certificate presentation ceremony residents with fresh prod- was held in Doha recently, where the ACHSI was represented by Dr Desmond Yen, ucts at reasonable prices, as executive director. The event was held in the presence of a number of dignitaries, well as to enable the Qatari including Dr Samar Aboulsoud, acting CEO of Qatar Council for Healthcare farmers to sell their agricul- Practitioners; R K Singh, deputy chief of mission at the Indian embassy; Dr tural merchandises without Mohamed Sahadulla, chairman of KIMS Group; Jassim Mubarak, chairman of intermediaries. KQMC; Nishad Azeem, executive director of KQMC; Dr Sheriff Sahadulla, executive director, medical, and group CMO; Jacob Thomas, director of operations, and others. KQMC in Wakrah, a branch of KIMS Healthcare Group, currently has 15 clinics, a laboratory, radiology and physiotherapy departments and a pharmacy. GCC citizen NBK bags ‘Best sentenced in absentia for carrying Stand’ Award fi rearm asser Bin Kha- led Automobiles N(NBK), the exclu- Doha criminal court has sive dealers of Mercedes- sentenced a citizen of a Benz, has received “The AGCC country, in absentia, Best Stand” Award from to a year Auto Sport magazine for in jail its display at the recently for pos- concluded Qatar Motor sessing Show 2016. an unli- Besides, Mercedes- censed Benz G 500 4x4 Square fi rearm. 2016 and SL 63 AMG The Championship edition court were included in the top has also 10 cars of the exhibition, NBK off icials at their pavilion at Qatar Motor Show 2016 receiving the award. directed him to pay a fi ne of as per a survey conducted QR10,000, local Arabic daily Al by the magazine. refl ects our position as Along with its creative was also one of the top- Arab has reported. Nasser Bin Khaled Au- leaders of the luxury cars design, the stand extend- 10 cars in 2016 car exhi- The defendant was convicted tomobiles participation segment in the market. In ed more than 900sqm, bition. It is co-created for keeping a pistol and 21 bullets in the Qatar Motor Show this stand, we were able displaying a range of 14 by Formula 1 champi- in his vehicle. 2016 demonstrates the meet our clients’ requests cars from diff erent cat- ons Lewis Hamilton and The matter came to light when company’s commitment and demands, and off ered egories that appealed to Nico Rosberg. There are two men were found standing towards the local commu- them a wide selection of all styles and choices, only 19 white and 19 by a vehicle in a deserted area nity and loyal customers. our best cars in a luxu- including the recently black cars of this edition by a police patrol. An offi cer As a brand name, Nasser rious and eye catching launched SUVs. in the world. sought the defendant’s consent Bin Khaled Automobiles ambience”. The G500 is beginning The Qatar Motor Show to search the vehicle, which the is deeply associated with a “We are pleased to have a new chapter of its suc- 2016 was held from Janu- latter agreed to and also signed history of premium qual- two of our cars in the top cess story which spans ary 28 to February1 at an affi davit mentioning his ity service and market 10 cars in the expo. It is more than 35 years. With the Doha Exhibition and approval, according to the daily. leadership. a clear indication that its continuously im- Convention Centre. The The weapon and the bullets Khaled Shabaan, gen- we are always on top,” proved technology and show included outdoor were found in the glove com- eral manager, NBK Au- Shaaban added. high-class equipment screenings, also in moto- partment of the vehicle. The tomobiles, said: “By re- NBK Automobiles and specifi cation, this cult cross, and test drives. The defendant admitted possessing ceiving the “Best Stand” Mercedes-Benz stand all-terrain vehicle has exhibition has become a them and said he had taken them Award, NBK Automobiles won the award for its consistently satisfi ed the regular date in the calen- to a wedding and was returning and Mercedes-Benz re- luxury and spacious stand highest expectations of dar and off ers one of the home. iterate their connection that allowed the visitors off -road fans. best informative plat- The defendant, who did not with creation, innovation to move among the cars The SL63 AMG forms on the subject of car attend any of the hearings, was and excellence. This also with comfort and privacy. Championship edition manufacturing. eventually convicted in the case.

QU takes part in universities summit

atar University transition to a knowledge- (QU) participated based economy. Qin the second Times He pointed to QU build- Higher Education (THE) ing a relationship of trust Mena Universities Summit and co-operation with at the UAE University. employers and the energy The university presented sector at diff erent levels an information booth at leading to signifi cant areas the event which brought of support such as profes- together university leaders sorial chairs, advisories on from around the region. market needs, summer in- QU president Dr Hassan ternships, and high school Rashid al-Derham joined STEM outreach initiatives. THE World University “QU sets the criteria for Rankings editor Phil Baty, these partnerships in how Gulf and Middle East edu- best they can support our cators, academicians, and objectives and mission education policy and gov- from the perspective of the ernance experts to exchange intake of QU graduates into information, experiences the labour market,” he said. and ideas under the theme He discussed how QU ‘World class higher educa- has also developed an on- tion as a driver of sustain- going relationship with able national development’. stakeholders such as Qa- Dr al-Derham partici- tar Foundation, Qatar Na- pated in the panel debate tional Research Fund, Qatar on ‘Engaging stakehold- Science and Technology ers for improved perform- Park, and the international ance’ where he gave a brief branch campuses at Edu- insight into QU’s status as cation City such as Texas the country’s fi rst national A&M Qatar and Weill Cor- university, its student pop- nell Medicine Qatar – on ulation, colleges and pro- existing and emerging na- grammes. tional priorities. Dr al-Derham detailed Dr al-Derham also high- ways in which Qatar Uni- lighted the university’s Qa- versity engages stakehold- tar Mobility Innovations ers such as students, part- Centre which developed ners, funding sources and smart transport products to other academic institutions mitigate traffi c challenges in its plans and goals with emerging from the con- the aim to respond collab- struction of the national oratively to the country’s rail system. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, February 7, 2016 REGION/ARAB WORLD

EU urges Israel to Arabian horse festival halt demolition of Palestinian housing

AFP tinian residences in the south Brussels Hebron hills on Wednesday. “This is particularly con- cerning both because of the he European Union yes- extent of the demolitions terday called on Israel and also the number of vul- Tto halt the demolition nerable individuals affected, of Palestinian housing, some including children who need of which was EU-funded, and support,” the EU said, adding reiterated its opposition to ex- that “demolitions included panding Israeli settlements in EU-funded structures.” the occupied West Bank. “We call on the Israeli au- “In the past weeks there thorities to reverse the deci- have been a number of de- sions taken and to halt fur- velopments in Area C of the ther demolitions,” it said. West Bank, which risk un- Foreign ministers from the dermining the viability of a 28 EU nations had confirmed future Palestinian state and “the EU’s firm opposition to driving the parties yet further Israel’s settlement policy” apart,” the EU diplomatic and criticised the actions in- service said in a statement. cluding demolitions, confis- It referred to Israel’s deci- cation and forced transfers. sion on January 25 to declare UN Secretary-General 380 acres of land near Jeri- Ban Ki-moon said Friday he cho in the West Bank as state was “ashamed” at a lack of land, with reported plans to progress in the Israeli-Pales- build around 150 new resi- tinian peace process, which dences for settlers. has been deadlocked since a This was followed by the US peace mission collapsed in demolition of several Pales- April 2014.

Militants attack facilities after leader’s killing

DPA Qaeda’s control since Decem- Sana’a ber. Militants from the Al Qae- da in the Arabian Peninsula l Qaeda militants blew (AQAP) also blew up yester- A horse is paraded during the fifth International Arabian Horse Festival at the Bait al-Arab Arabian Horse Centre in Kuwait City yesterday. A total of 419 horses from diff erent up two government day a coastguard building in Arab countries are participating in the event. Abuildings in war-rav- Shaqra, east of Zinjibar, wit- aged Yemen yesterday, two nesses said. No casualties were days after a senior leader in the reported. terrorist group was killed in an There was no immediate of- airstrike, local residents said. fi cial comment. Radical insurgents planted AQAP is regarded as one of a large amount of explosives Al Qaeda’s most active branch- inside and around the Special es in the world. Security Forces headquarters Jalal Baleedi, a senior AQAP in Zinjibar, the capital of the leader, and two aides were southern province of Abyan, killed Thursday when a US Iran govt allows more before detonating it, the resi- drone struck their car in Abyan, dents said. The building was located 427 kilometres south- completely destroyed, they east of the capital Sana’a. added without reporting casu- Al Qaeda operatives have alties. taken advantage of Yemen’s Zinjibar has been under Al civil war. candidates for election The increase came after last month. Those seeking to the increased number of regis- nounce how many of their taking place on the same day previously rejected become one of Iran’s 290 law- trations,” he said. candidates were re-approved. as the election of Iran’s high- Funeral procession candidates presented makers must first be screened Among those excluded last One official said last month est clerical body, the Assem- new evidence of their by the Guardian Council, a month were thousands from that only one percent of its bly of Experts, a powerful credentials, allowing a conservative-dominated com- Iran’s reformist movement, a applicants — 30 from 3,000 committee that monitors the partial reversal of the mittee of clerics and jurists. group with little parliamentary — were deemed eligible but work of Iran’s supreme leader, mass disqualification of The vetting procedure is representation. others have said many more Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. thousands last month contentious because the Febru- On hearing of the rejections, would be allowed to stand. The 88-member committee ary 26 poll is an opportunity for reformists asked President The 6,180 number could picked to serve by voters will AFP reformists and moderate poli- Hassan Rouhani, a moderate rise again, as a number of be elected to an eight-year Tehran ticians to make gains against a cleric with close ties to the re- initially approved candidates term. currently conservative major- form movement, to intervene were subsequently rejected by That election is seen by ity in parliament. and seek changes. the Guardian Council. They many as more important that ran has approved an extra On January 18, officials said Reformists largely stayed have three days to appeal. the parliamentary ballot as as- 1,500 candidates to contest 4,700 prospective candidates away from legislative polls “147 people were barred by sembly members, who are also Ithis month’s parliamen- had been approved from more four years ago in protest at the the Guardian Council” but if vetted in advance, will be re- tary election, raising the total than 12,000 original applica- disputed re-election as presi- they have documents proving sponsible for picking a new su- number of hopefuls by around tions. dent of Mahmoud Ahmadine- their qualification they can preme leader when Khamenei, a third, an electoral official said But 6,180 are now eligible, jad, in 2009. object, Amiri said. who is 76, dies. Members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard carry the yesterday. said interior ministry spokes- Rouhani is hoping his allies “The Guardian Council’s “We are now reviewing the caskets of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Brigadier General The increase came after man Hossein Ali Amiri yester- can capitalise in the elections opinion is absolute and final Assembly of Experts candi- Mohsen Ghajarian and other Iranian “volunteers”, who previously rejected candi- day, according to official Irna after last month’s imple- except for these 147.” dates and the results will be de- were reportedly killed in the northern province of Aleppo dates presented new evidence . mentation of Iran’s nuclear A final list of candidates is termined on February 10,” said in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group, during their of their credentials, allowing “In no other elections have deal with world powers lifted to be published on February Siamak Rah-Peyk, spokesman funeral procession in the capital Tehran yesterday. a partial reversal of the mass we had so many approved can- longstanding sanctions. 16. for the Central Elections Su- disqualification of thousands didates, which is partly due to Reformists have yet to an- The parliamentary poll is pervising Committee. Gulf Times Sunday, February 7, 2016 11 ARAB WORLD

Visa rules Thousands of Syrians brave tightened for Iraqi cold, rain at Turkey border citizens AFP AFP Istanbul Beirut urkey has tightened its housands of Syrians visa rules for Iraqi citizens braved the cold and rain Tas a sign of its “determi- Tyesterday at the Turk- nation to fi ght illegal immigra- ish border after fl eeing a Rus- tion,” the foreign ministry said sian-backed regime assault on yesterday. Aleppo in northern Syria that Under previous rules, Iraqi threatens a fresh humanitarian citizens were able to enter Tur- disaster. key by obtaining sticker type vi- Syria’s government, mean- sas at Turkish borders, valid for while, warned that any foreign 30 days. soldiers who enter the country Now Iraqi nationals will have would go home “in a wooden to pre-apply for either an elec- coffi n”, following reports that tronic or a paper visa to enter the Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which country, the ministry said in a support rebel forces, could send statement. in troops. “The said changes have been Tens of thousands of people made in line with our country’s have fl ed fi erce fi ghting as gov- determination to fi ght illegal im- ernment forces advanced this migration,” it said. week against rebels, severing Those who hold a valid visa or the opposition’s main supply residence permit issued by the route into the northern metrop- US, UK, Ireland or a Schengen olis of Aleppo. country will be able to travel to Turkey’s Oncupinar border Turkey with only an electronic crossing, which faces Bab al- visa. Salama inside Syria, remained Refugees wait for tents as Syrians fleeing the northern embattled city of Aleppo wait yesterday in Bab-Al Salam, near the city of Azaz, northern Syria. Right: Internally displaced Syrians But those who don’t will now closed yesterday, an AFP corre- gather at a shelter near the Bab Al-Salam crossing, opposite Turkey’s Kilis province yesterday. have to apply for a visa online spondent said. and then obtain it from a Turkish Suleyman Tapsiz, governor der policy for these people fl ee- the Aleppo-based pro-rebel said. Riyadh on Thursday said it gee camp near the border gate Aleppo and Daraa since Russia diplomatic consular mission, the of Turkey’s Kilis province on ing from the aggression, from Shahba Press news agency. would “contribute positively” if on the Turkish side, and at least began air strikes on Septem- ministry said. the border, said at least 70,000 the regime as well as air strikes “And because the main rebel the US-led coalition against the four more were seen returning ber 30 in support of President “With the new regulation, people were heading for the of Russia,” he said. supply route between Aleppo Islamic State (IS) group in Syria to Turkey after delivering food Bashar al-Assad. sticker rules have been abol- frontier and that the displaced “We have received already and Turkey has been cut, the decides on ground action. in Syria. A Red Cross spokes- Western nations have ac- ished,” it added. were being accommodated in 5,000 of them; another 50,000 price of oil, foodstuff s and baby Russia, key ally of the Da- man said that eff orts were under cused Damascus of sabotaging Turkey, which is shelter- eight camps on the Syrian side. to 55,000 are on their way and milk has shot up in the north of mascus government, accused way to deliver aid to northern UN-backed peace talks that ing 2.7mn refugees from Syria’s Turkey — which is already we cannot leave them there.” Aleppo province,” he added. Turkey of “preparations for Aleppo but warned that “access collapsed this week with its mil- civil war, has become a hub for home to between 2-2.5mn Syr- According to the Britain- The Observatory said 435 an armed invasion” of Syria, a is diffi cult”. itary off ensive, and Washington migrants seeking to move to Eu- ians — is also able to take care based Syrian Observatory for people have been killed since claim that Ankara dismissed. Aleppo city, Syria’s former has demanded Moscow halt its rope. of 30-35,000 refugees inside Human Rights, around 40,000 the regime off ensive began on Turkey last faced such an economic powerhouse, has air war. The country is hosting another Syria, Tapsiz said. Syrian civilians have fl ed the re- Monday, among them 71 civil- infl ux in 2014 when 200,000 been divided between opposi- Top diplomats from countries 300,000 Iraqi refugees. Turkish Foreign Minis- gime off ensive. ians most of whom died in Rus- refugees fl ed the Syrian Kurdish tion control in the east and re- trying to resolve the confl ict are Ankara reached an agree- ter Mevlut Cavusoglu said his “Thousands have been sleep- sian air strikes. town of Kobane over three days gime control in the west since set to meet again week af- ment with the European Union country would keep its “open ing in the open, in fi elds and on Also killed were 124 regime as IS and Kurdish fi ghters bat- mid-2012. ter UN envoy Staff an de Mis- in November to stem the fl ow border policy” for Syrian refu- roads,” on the border and in the forces, 90 jihadists from Al tled to control it. Syria’s army has recaptured tura suspended the fl ounder- of migrants bound for Europe in gees. nearby Syrian city of Azaz, said Qaeda’s Syria affi liate Al Nusra Trucks were seen on Friday several key rebel towns in La- ing Geneva negotiations until return for 3bn euros ($3.2bn) in “We still keep this open bor- Mamun al-Khatib, director of Front and 150 other rebels, it carrying tent parts to the refu- takia province and advanced in February 25. fi nancial assistance.

CURBS Tunisia completes barrier with Kurds begin diplomatic conflict-hit Libya Tunisia yesterday completed the construction of a barrier along its push with Moscow offi ce border with Libya, months after at- tacks on its national museum and a beach resort that killed dozens AFP Kurdish separatists are insisting on of tourists. Defence Minister Farhat Qamishli the creation of a federal system in Syria. Horchani told reporters that the Last year, they opened their fi rst such construction of berms and water- representation offi ce in the autono- filled trenches marks “an important yrian Kurdish separatists have an- mous Kurdish region of Iraq. day” for Tunisia in its struggle nounced plans to open “represen- Oussi said several foreign delegations against “terrorism”. Station” offi ces in several capitals, have already visited Kurdish-controlled Two attacks claimed by the Islamic starting next week with Damascus regime areas, among them Brett McGurk, US State group last year killed 59 for- ally Moscow, an offi cial said yesterday. President Barack Obama special envoy eign tourists, with Tunisian off icials “The autonomous Syrian Kurdish re- for the international coalition fi ghting saying the assailants had trained in gion will open an offi ce in Moscow on the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. conflict-ridden Libya where IS is ac- February 10 and is preparing to open an- He visited Kobane in late January, tive. “Tunisia is capable of fighting other in Berlin, with Washington, Paris accompanied by senior French and against terrorism in an active and and Arab countries coming later,” said British offi cials. A US offi cial said that eff icient way,” Horchani said during Amina Oussi, deputy head of the Hasa- McGurk’s visit was to take stock of the a tour of the barrier. It stretches keh committee for external relations. campaign against IS. some 200 kilometres from Ras “These representation offi ces aim to The Kurdish Democratic Union Party Jedir on the Mediterranean coast secure recognition for the autonomous (PYD) was not invited to the Syria peace to Dhiba further southwest, across Kurdish region” in Syria, she said. talks in Geneva which collapsed this about half the length of the frontier In November 2013, Kurdish groups in week. Damascus ally Russia believed between the two neighbours. the northeast of the war-ravaged coun- that no negotiations could yield results Horchani said a second phase of try announced the establishment of a without it, but Turkey considered its the project will include installing transitional autonomous administra- presence unacceptable, given the Kurd- electronic equipment with the help tion after making key territorial gains ish desire for independence. of Germany and the US. He said against jihadists. The PYD is a leader in the fi ght against the barrier, which Tunisia calls a The administration is split into three IS in northern Syria but is considered by “system of obstacles”, has already regions: Hasakeh in the east, Kobane in Ankara to be an off shoot of its arch-foe “proven its eff iciency”. the centre and Afrin in the west. the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Gulf Times 12 Sunday, February 7, 2016 AFRICA Key Somalian Water woes port is retaken from Shebaab

AFP Al Qaeda claims Timbuktu attack Mogadishu Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb stormed the former hotel serving as said yesterday they carried out Fri- the mission base, one detonating a omali government troops day’s attack on a UN military camp vehicle-borne improvised explosive backed by African Union in Timbuktu in Mali’s restive north. device at the entrance and the two Speacekeepers yesterday re- At least four suspected militants others entering inside. captured the key port of Merka and a Malian soldier were killed in A Malian police indicated from Shebaab insurgents, just one the attack which the group said was two suspects, who army sources day after the Islamists swept into designed to send “a clear mes- said had been arrested in the after- the city, the army and residents sage” of its intention and capacity math of the attack, were released said. to target the UN’s peacekeeping yesterday. “The people arrested “The Somali forces and AMISOM MINUSMA mission. Friday have been freed for lack of Children watch as their Zimbabwean mother collects water from a communal tap in Harare. peacekeepers secured control of The group said in a statement evidence,” the Timbuktu gendarme- Merka again and now the situation that three fighters from the Al rie source told AFP without giving has returned to normal,” a Somali Quds Brigade of its Sahara division further details. military offi cial, Abdirisak Mo- hamed, told AFP by telephone from Mogadishu. Another resident, Shamso ment headquarters in Merka after “There was brief exchange of Moalim, said “Shebaab fi ghters the seizure on Friday. 101 die in Nigeria from Lassa fever outbreak gunfi re, but the (Shebaab) militants pulled out of the town after putting “The enemy has lost and run- have fl ed.” up slight resistance, the Somali ning away, they are fl eeing from the He said “several” Shebaab fi ght- forces and AMISOM are back”. Islamic regions,” it quoted him as AFP sults pending or laboratory confi rmed The outbreak was only announced ers and one Somali soldier were “There are civilian casualties saying. Abuja cases,” the NCDC said in a statement. in January - months after the fi rst case killed in the clashes, and “the se- but I don’t know the number”, she Residents said earlier yesterday Deaths from the virus were recorded in occurred in August - with subsequent curity forces are now conducting added. that the Shebaab had begun impos- ’s political capital, Abuja, La- deaths reported in 10 states, including clearing operations inside town.” AU troops had fl ed the city, the ing Shariah on the city. growing Lassa fever outbreak in gos, and 14 other states, the NCDC said. Abuja. A resident reached by telephone state capital of Lower Shabelle, Kenyan President Uhuru Keny- Nigeria has killed 101 people, as While health authorities assure Afri- Last year, 12 people died in Nigeria out said the AU force, known by its ac- as heavily armed Shehab fi ghters atta, speaking at an AU summit last AWest Africa battles to contain a ca’s most populous country of more than of 375 infected, while in 2012 there were ronym AMISOM, used tanks to re- swept in with black Islamist fl ags month, called for more “resources fl are-up of the virus, according to data 170mn that they have the virus under 1,723 cases and 112 deaths, according to capture the port, and four civilians on Friday, residents and local au- for the forces in Somalia so that from the nation’s health authorities re- control, there are fears the actual scale of the NCDC. were killed after they were caught thorities said, in one of the most AMISOM can have robust power on leased yesterday. the outbreak is under-reported. In neighbouring Benin, at least nine in the fi ghting. dramatic reverses for the multi- land, air and the sea.” Nigeria Centre for Disease Control The NCDC said offi cials have distrib- people have died in a Lassa outbreak, with “Four people died in our neigh- national force in its nearly decade- AU troops have been hampered (NCDC) statistics show that reported uted large quantities of drugs, includ- a total of 20 suspected cases, health au- bourhood and two others were long battle against the Shebaab. by a lack of air power - includ- cases of the haemorrhagic disease - both ing Ribavirin tablets, and bottles of hand thorities had said last Tuesday. wounded, I can see AMISOM and The Al Qaeda-linked Shebaab ing attack helicopters - leaving confi rmed and suspected - stood at 175 sanitizers across the country to tackle the The number of Lassa fever infections Somali troops returned to the city said on its website that one of its their bases often isolated and sup- with a total of 101 deaths since August. disease. It however reported that logistics across West Africa every year is between now and they are conducting se- leaders, Sheikh Mohamed Abu-Ab- ply lines vulnerable to attack by “As at today, 19 (including Abuja) states support and delayed reporting of cases by 100,000 to 300,000, with about 5,000 curity operations”, Muhidin Osman dallah, addressed hundreds of peo- Shebaab gunmen controlling sur- are currently following up contacts, or states are dogging the fi ght against Lassa deaths, according to the US Centres for said. ple gathered at the regional govern- rounding rural areas. have suspected cases with laboratory re- fever. Disease Control and Prevention.

ICC to investigate Is Nigeria the new hub? ‘outing’ of Gbagbo AFP ers hosing down panting contest- ants and a mini-marching band composed of a trumpeter and two case witnesses drummers adding an impromptu he infamously congested, soundtrack to the event. concrete jungle of Lagos is Kenyan Abraham Kipton won the AFP Tfar from a runners’ paradise, marathon and the $50,000 prize The Hague but with the launch yesterday of a with a time of 2:16.21, crossing new annual marathon, organisers the fi nish line with his arms raised hope to show that the city’s bad in victory before collapsing on the he International Criminal Court said yesterday reputation is undeserved. ground just after the fi nish line. it will probe how the names of at least four confi - Over 20,000 participants turned Though happy for his win, he had Tdential witnesses in the trial of former Ivory Coast out before dawn on a typically to acknowledge Lagos’s oppressive president Laurent Gbagbo were accidentally revealed this muggy morning in Lagos to com- heat. “It is my fi rst time running in week. pete in the biggest marathon the very high humidity but I thank God Friday’s incident in which a closed session of Gbagbo’s city has seen in thirty years. for ,” Kipton said to AFP. crimes against humanity trial was mistakenly broadcast The streets of sub-Saharan Af- “Nigeria is very hot but it is very on the court’s public channel “will be investigated”, the rica’s biggest metropolis, usually good,” agreed the women’s winner ICC’s head of public information Sonia Robla told AFP clogged with cars, battered mini Ethiopian Halima Hussein Kayo. from The Hague. busses and whizzing okadas - mo- Adeyemi Kazeem, one of the fi rst A clip of the hearing widely circulated on social media torbike taxis - were cleared for Nigerian fi nishers, said that despite including Fon the YouTube video channel, shows ICC the event and patrolled by lines of not placing in the top three he was judge Cuno Tarfusser calling for the trial to go into a closed armed police and soldiers. proud of his performance. session at the request of lead prosecutor Eric MacDonald. Runners, some barefoot and oth- “I feel good, I can inspire more But the microphones are left open and MacDonald can ers decked out head to toe in candy- people to run in Nigeria,” he said. be heard saying that he wanted to raise the issue of witness coloured athletic gear, braved the Still in its infancy, the race suf- protection. haze, taking advantage of the rare fered a few hitches. Due to security concerns about the identity of witnesses opportunity to run on a smooth One runner said that by the time the ICC has been monitoring social networks such as Fa- road with air free of exhaust fumes. he reached the refreshment station cebook and Twitter, he says. “It’s kind of hectic to stay in Marathon winner Kenyan Abraham Kipton (left) hugs compatriot and runner-up Hosea Kiptemboi at the end there was no bottles of water left “Certain bloggers, and members of the pub- Lagos, but people make it work,” of the first yesterday. and was forced to pull out of the lic” following the case in the public gallery or on the In- Lolade McJohnson, a 33-year-old race at the 30km mark. ternet are “posting live commentary” about the case on lawyer cheering on runners, said to Nigeria has yet to develop a long a strong culture of running, all Islamic insurgency, Thomas said But with the next Lagos mara- Twitter, MacDonald tells the three judges. AFP. “After this, we’ll have more distance running culture. that died,” Lagos City Marathon events like the marathon show it’s thon already pencilled in for Feb- These bloggers “are trying to fi nd out the identities of people interested in running, may- For some, it’s a casualty of years spokesman Olukayode Thomas not only doom and gloom for the ruary next year, Thomas insists witnesses 9, 10 and 11,” MacDonald said according to the be now we’ll even have a Nigerian of chronic mismanagement of lu- told AFP. “But that is a culture country. “It’s not just about Boko these are just hiccups in the grand French translation of his comments in one YouTube clip. champion.” crative oil funds that has left Af- we’re trying to revive.” Haram, there are a lot of positives scheme of things. But he then goes on to pronounce the names to the judg- Unlike in Kenya and Ethiopia, rica’s biggest economy without ba- With Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil in Nigeria,” he insists. “We were facing many fears be- es, which could clearly be overheard on the public channel. two countries whose runners have sic infrastructure, let along quality producer, taking a massive hit from Thousands of people turned out fore the race - security, traffi c - but A fourth name was also revealed later, media reports said. dominated for years, or sports programmes. the low price of crude and battling to encourage the runners along the so far there’s not been any issues,” The blunder was front-page news in both the pro- and in marathon-crazed South Africa, “In the 70’s and 80’s there was an almost seven-year Boko Haram 42km stretch of road, with garden- Thomas said, “it can only get better.” anti-Gbagbo press back in Ivory State. “Scandal at the ICC,” wrote the pro-Gbagbo Notre Voie daily. The Nord-Sud paper, close to the ruling presidency, spoke of “Total panic in the Gbagbo camp”. “Yes, I am on the witness list,” one of the witnesses told Notre Voie. “But people don’t know if I am a witness for the prosecution or the defence. I am a politician … I have experienced the events and I know what I have to say,” he added. Friday’s incident is not the fi rst in the trial of Gbagbo and his former fi rebrand youth militia leader Charles Ble Goude. Last Wednesday, the prosecution’s fi rst witness, P547, accidentally gave his name as he told how forces loyal to Gbagbo allegedly fi red on unarmed protesters. Judge Tarfusser immediately halted proceedings and or- dered journalists not to use the witness’s name. Reporters also had to give their names to ICC security offi cials. Gbagbo and Ble Goude have denied four charges of crimes against humanity after 3,000 people were killed following a disputed Ivory Coast presidential vote in late 2010. Their highly-anticipated trial opened on January 28 in the court based in The Hague and is set to last three to four years. Witness protection is a cornerstone of how the ICC op- erates as it seeks to bring to justice those responsible for the world’s worst crimes. Many witnesses fear reprisals if they give evidence against those on trial, and the ICC tries to shield the iden- tities of those at risk - even sometimes moving them to diff erent countries to start a new life. Gulf Times Sunday, February 7, 2016 13 AMERICAS

Qaeda supporter sues for ‘medical Trump, Rubio likely malpractice’

Reuters But assistant US attorney New York Michael Byars argued those same ultrasounds along with later ones showed the condi- targets in 8th debate New York man serv- tion was in early stages at that ing a 15-year prison time. Trump and Rubio now in Asentence for providing He called El-Hanafi ’s con- the lead will get the most support to Al Qaeda is urging dition hereditary and said it attention from trailing a federal judge to award him “was most likely not prevent- candidates $7mn because of a medical able, no matter how early it condition he says went un- was caught”. Reuters treated while in US custody. Manchester, New Hampshire Lawyers for Wesam El- In a lawsuit fi led in 2013, Hanafi , 40, and the US gov- El-Hanafi said aft er his ernment made their clos- arrest, police in Abu onald Trump and Marco ing arguments on Friday in a Dhabi shackled his feet Rubio could be top tar- week-long medical malprac- during his detention, and Dgets for rivals’ fi re when tice trial over whether the that on a 16-hour fl ight to seven Republican White House prison system failed to timely Washington his leg use hopefuls take the stage in New diagnose and treat a blood clot was discouraged Hampshire for their eighth de- in a deep vein in his calf. bate, just days before the state’s El-Hanafi , a Brooklyn-born “There was no violation of high-stakes primary. man who US prosecutors say the standard of care,” he said. Billionaire Trump held a wide facilitated surveillance of the El-Hanafi , who is seeking lead in polls in New Hampshire, New York Stock Exchange, $7mn in damages, pleaded with US senator Rubio of Flor- contends his symptoms began guilty in 2010 to charges in- ida second in a rapid rise ahead shortly after his arrest in Du- cluding that he provided ma- of Tuesday’s primary, part of bai in 2010. terial support to terrorists and the series of contests to pick the In a lawsuit fi led in 2013, was sentenced in January 2015 nominee for the November 8 El-Hanafi said after his arrest, to 15 years in prison. presidential election. police in Abu Dhabi shackled He worked as an informa- Trump and Rubio have taken his feet during his detention, tion technology employee fl ak from competitors as candi- and that on a 16-hour fl ight for Lehman Brothers at the dates launched an all-out off en- to Washington his leg use was bank’s Dubai offi ces until his sive across New Hampshire. discouraged. arrest Former Florida governor Jeb His lawyer, Jake Harper, Prosecutors said El-Hanafi Bush attacked Trump for using said after departing the air- travelled to Yemen in 2008 profane language and brought plane, El-Hanafi began expe- and swore an allegiance to Al out his mother, former fi rst riencing pain in his right calf, Qaeda. lady Barbara Bush, who accused initial symptoms of a blood He then used his expertise Trump of misogyny over his crit- clot condition called deep to help advise Al Qaeda con- icisms of a Fox News anchor. Donald Trump signs autographs at a campaign rally in Florence, South Carolina. vein thrombosis. tacts how to avoid detection Bush and New Jersey governor “We had consistent com- while communicating on- Chris Christie also went after apparently struggling to name debate, argued that Republicans heart and your brain, that’s what ping out. A new Suff olk Univer- plaints about pain by Mr El- line, and also sent money and Rubio. All three are vying for the any of the senator’s accomplish- won’t win elections by bashing it’s really all about,” Kasich said. sity/Boston Globe poll found Hanafi since that date,” he equipment to Al Qaeda con- favor of establishment Republi- ments. each other. Kasich has placed But it could be a tough message Trump leading in New Hamp- told US district judge Gregory tacts, prosecutors said. cans in New Hampshire. Rubio fi nished third in Iowa much of his White House hopes to absorb in a tense week. Trump, shire with 29 percent, followed Woods, who presided over the At the direction of Yemen- Christie on Friday released on Monday, behind US senator on New Hampshire, where he Cruz and retired neurosurgeon by Rubio and Kasich. non-jury trial. based contacts, El-Hanafi videos mocking Rubio for ap- Ted Cruz of Texas and Trump. On held his 100th town hall event on Ben Carson have engaged in a Not on stage will be business- Despite that, Harper said also assigned an associate to pearing scripted on the campaign Friday, Rubio won the endorse- Friday. three-way stand-off since Cruz’s woman Carly Fiorina, who failed El-Hanafi ’s condition went perform surveillance of US trail. And Bush, a former mentor ment of another ex-candidate, “Part of the campaign is not surprise Iowa win. Trump called to meet host network ABC’s re- undiagnosed until being treat- locations, including the New to Rubio, unveiled an ad showing Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal. just about how you trash some- for the results to be nullifi ed over quirements to qualify. Fiorina re- ed at a New York hospital in York Stock Exchange, as po- Rick Santorum, who left the race Ohio Governor John Kasich, body else. The way you win a reports that Cruz supporters told leased an open letter excoriating September and October 2011, tential attack targets, pros- this week and endorsed Rubio, who will also participate in the campaign is what you’re for, your caucus-goers Carson was drop- the debate process as “broken”. when ultrasounds were taken. ecutors said.

Pentagon’s budget plan funds 404 F-35s

Reuters orders for 45 Air Force jets, compared Corps to buy 64 F-35C jets, which can Washington with last year’s plan, while accelerating take off and land on aircraft carriers, orders for the Navy and Marine Corps over the next fi ve years, and 97 F-35B models of the aircraft, the sources said. jets, which can land like a helicopter, he US defence department plans The Pentagon still plans to buy a the sources said. to buy 404 Lockheed Martin total of 2,457 jets for all three military Defence secretary Ash Carter this TCorp F-35 fi ghter jets over the services in coming years, they added. week announced plans to buy 13 more next fi ve years, a net decrease of 5 to 7% The Pentagon’s plan does not in- F-35 fi ghter jets for the Navy and Marine from last year’s plan, sources familiar clude an estimated 260 international Corps than planned last year, but he did with the plans said on Friday. F-35 orders over the fi ve-year period, not disclose the total number of jets to The orders will amount to about said the sources. Those orders could be purchased across the department. $40bn in new revenue for Lockheed, rise further over the period given po- Two sources said the plans could ac- the Pentagon’s No 1 supplier, and en- tential orders from countries including tually represent an increase of 21 F-35 gine maker Pratt & Whitney, a unit of Finland, Denmark, Belgium and Singa- jets for the Navy and Marine Corps United Technologies Corp . pore, the sources said. over the fi ve-year period. No comment The revised procurement numbers The new plan calls for the Air Force was immediately available on the dis- will be released on Tuesday when the to buy 243 F-35 jets through fi scal 2021, crepancy from Carter’s offi ce. Pentagon issues its fi scal 2017 budget and 45 fewer than planned, as the service The US Marine Corps declared an the new fi ve-year plan, said the sources, juggles funds to pay for a new long- initial squadron of 10 of its F-35B mod- who were not authorized to speak pub- range bomber to be built by Northrop el jets ready for combat last July. licly before the budget release. Grumman Corp , and KC-46A refu- The Air Force is due to follow suit in The change in the Pentagon’s plan eling planes to be built by Boeing Co . August, followed by the Navy in late for the $391bn weapons program defers It calls for the Navy and Marine 2018 or early 2019.

One dead in strip club shooting

One person was killed and seven were injured when a gunman opened fire inside a crowded Florida strip club early yesterday, police said. The shooting occurred in the early hours at Club Rayne, an exotic dancing venue on the city of Tampa’s north side, Tampa Police spokesman Stephen Hegarty said. At least one person drew a gun after an apparent verbal dispute at the club, Hegarty said. “All of a sudden somebody started shooting,” Hegarty said, citing witness interviews. It was not immediately clear what had caused the argument. The gunman fled the scene. No arrests have been made but police are pursuing leads. A police off icer was shot and killed in western Oregon when he attempted to serve a warrant on a male suspect on Friday, local media and police said. The off icer was shot in the downtown area of the city of Seaside at about 9.30pm local time, his force said. The 39-year-old, who had been with the department for 13 years, died from his wounds, an ABC aff iliate in Portland reported. The suspect was shot by another off icer and taken to hospital. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, February 7, 2016 ASEAN Could Suu Kyi end up

Suu Kyi: has said that she would lead the country ‘standing leading as president? above the president’. By Antoni Slodkowski and After a quiet period follow- needs amending since it’s one of offi cial title she is free to strate- sources familiar with the mat- at the same time sticking to the president, but I honestly don’t Simon Webb, Reuters ing Suu Kyi’s massive election the laws.” gise without the day-to-day bur- ter said that senior commanders military’s line on the sanctity of think the constitution should Naypyitaw/Yangon win in November, negotiations The army has so far insisted it den of running the country,” said from across the country gather a the 2008 charter. be suspended since this is not a have entered a critical stage since wants no change to the constitu- a Western diplomat, who did not few times a year to discuss mili- “We’ll do it according to the good tradition to hand down to a meeting between army chief tion and would not countenance want to be named because of the tary matters. constitutional provisions,” he future parliaments,” said law- s Aung San Suu Kyi’s Min Aung Hlaing and Suu Kyi on Suu Kyi’s presidency. sensitivity of the matter. But politics was likely high said. maker Ba Shin of the Arakan Na- lawmakers smiled for the January 26, lawmakers and dip- She has struck a defi ant note, The New York Times on Friday on the agenda – the military re- Even if the two sides were to tional Party, a large ethnic party Acameras at the fi rst ses- lomats close to the process say. saying that she would lead the cited two senior members of the tains a central role in the former agree to change the constitution, from Rakhine State. sions of Myanmar’s parliament, With its huge mandate Suu country “standing above the NLD as saying that talks with the Burma, with a quarter of seats in it would still require a nationwide The NLD has until the end of a summit of generals convened Kyi’s National League for De- president”. military have included a possible parliament reserved for it, along referendum. March to organise the presiden- at a base just minutes from the mocracy (NLD) can chose the Now, some Yangon-based deal that would allow Suu Kyi to with control of the security forc- To circumvent that lengthy tial vote in the parliament, but chamber. next president but, under the diplomats say Min Aung Hlaing be president in exchange for sen- es and the civil service. process, article 59 (f), which bars leaders said they may carry it out On every mind was the same constitution written by the army might be tempted to compromise ior government posts. Moreover, with its block of anyone with a foreign spouse or next week or towards the end of question: who will be the coun- before it ceded power in 2011, she in return for a pledge from Suu It did not name the party lead- seats in parliament the military children from the presidency and February, suggesting the two try’s next president? herself cannot take the job. The Kyi that she would not infringe ers and said details of the nego- wields a veto over any changes to so disqualifi es Suu Kyi, whose sides could be close to a deal. The parallel events summed up NLD wants that changed. on the military’s vast economic tiations were murky. the constitution, which requires sons are British citizens, could “They are trying to fi nd a solu- the complex nature of the politi- “Our fi rst priority includes interests nor seek revenge for It is not known what was dis- a super-majority of more than be suspended, according to Aung tion that doesn’t step on every- cal transition: a much-publicised amending laws which are out of abuses under years of junta rule. cussed at this week’s meeting at 75%. Ko, a former general and Suu Kyi one’s red lines,” said Kelly Currie, election of parliament speakers date and not in harmony with As well as burnishing his leg- army headquarters, which sits Asked about the chances ally, and NLD legal experts. senior fellow at the Washington- at which former foes from Suu the present situation,” Tun Tun acy, such a move would also put close to the sprawling parliament that the constitution could be Whether that would be lawful based Asia-focused think tank Kyi’s party and the military shook Hein, a member of the NLD’s responsibility for fi xing an im- complex in Myanmar’s remote amended to allow Suu Kyi to be remains open to debate, and even Project 2049 Institute. “Most hands, while behind closed doors governing council, told reporters poverished country riven by dec- capital Naypyitaw. president, Major General Tauk some Suu Kyi supporters worry likely a more straightforward the country’s top power brokers after being appointed chairman ades of ethnic confl ict squarely Confi rming the gathering co- Tun, the most senior military about the precedent it could set. situation is better. Better than met to hammer out how they will of the key lower house bill com- on Suu Kyi, they say. incided with the opening week of lawmaker in the lower house, “Personally I do want Daw Suu Kyi governing but not having run Myanmar. mittee. “The constitution also “If you keep her without any the newly elected legislature, two did not entirely rule it out, while Aung San Suu Kyi to become the a position.”

For many, Vietnam’s 12-hour Tet cake is well worth the wait

She may be edging into her nineties, long holiday in Vietnam that sees nearly Today the cakes are laid at family altars All ready for but Tran Thi Tam still refuses to serve all schools and off ices close. as an off ering to ancestors. her children store-bought banh chung, Families gather to ring in the new year It’s become increasingly common for New Year the savoury rice cake prepared in a – which will start on February 8 – and families to buy the dish from specialty Right: People watch and take frenzy during Vietnam’s lunar new year carry out a host of rituals, such as sellers instead of making them from pictures of a lion dance festival known as Tet. giving gifts and red envelops of cash, scratch. performance during Lunar Instead, the 89-year-old Hanoi resident cleaning and decorating homes and But rumours have bubbled in recent New Year celebrations at and her children spend more than a day firing up elaborate feasts. years about commercial banh chung Pondok Indah Mall in Jakarta. assembling the Vietnamese delicacy According to an oft-told legend, makers who try to speed up the lengthy made of sticky rice, beans and meat the banh chung recipe was first preparation by dropping a battery into Below, right: A boy is reflected wrapped in green leaves and tied with prepared thousands of years ago by the boiling pot of cakes – a method that in a mirror while he prepares bamboo string. a Vietnamese prince who wanted Vietnam’s state-run television warned trees for sale ahead of Lunar “Banh chung made outside the house is to impress his father in a bid for the was dangerous and ineff ective in a New Year on a street in central never good,” she insists. throne. report this week. Phnom Penh. The wrapped cakes, which must be Pleased with the cake’s flavour and For Tam, this is just another reason to boiled for 12 hours before they are impressed with his son’s demonstration keep the cooking under her own roof. below: A man tickles a boy next ready to eat, are one of several dishes of respect, the king duly handed down “I will never buy the ready-made banh to the Lunar New Year prepared specially for Tet, the week- his crown. chung,” she said. decorations in Kuala Lumpur.

Lab experiments with bacteria to tackle Zika

By Randy Fabi and ruary 1, citing a “strongly suspected” Kanupriya Kapoor, Reuters relationship between Zika infection in Yogyakarta/Jakarta pregnancy to microcephaly, a condi- tion marked by abnormally small head A researcher allows himself to be size in babies that can result in devel- bitten by mosquitos during a researcher sits in a laboratory opmental problems. voluntary ‘feeding’ at the Eliminate in Indonesia, his arms extended There is no treatment or vaccine and Dengue Programme (EDP) lab in Aover clear plastic boxes buzz- the WHO has recommended limiting Yogyakarta. ing with mosquitoes: over the next 20 people’s exposure to mosquitoes. minutes, tiny bumps develop on his The number of dengue cases at a test “Systematic surveillance needs to skin as the insects bite dozens of times. site in Yogyakarta where the bacteria be done to determine the prevalence The voluntary “feeding”, at which method was used fell from 10 in 2015 to of Zika and at the moment we might be researchers take turns, is part of a pro- just one this year. underestimating the number of cases,” gramme in the city of Yogyakarta to try However, the method has yet to said Herawati Sudoyo, deputy director to eliminate mosquito-borne diseases show conclusive results in the fi eld. of the government-funded Eijkman like dengue fever and – scientists now “I don’t believe there is a single Institute in Jakarta, adding the health hope, as concerns mount about its magic bullet,” said Adi Utarini, who community in Indonesia is still inves- spread across Latin America and the heads the research in Indonesia. “The tigating any links to birth defects. Caribbean – the Zika virus too. new technology that we bring in is not “The scientifi c community may The mosquitoes carry bacteria intended to replace all of the existing have been caught by surprise by this called Wolbachia, which scientists activities ... prevention is very impor- outbreak. We are catching up on learn- introduced in earlier generations, and tant.” ing about this,” she added. they will eventually be released to Indonesian President Joko Widodo The Zika virus has been present in breed with wild mosquitoes. this week urged offi cials to step up pre- Southeast Asia for decades, but there The bacteria, as it spreads from one ventive measures like health awareness have been no reported outbreaks. insect to another, reduces the chances campaigns and fogging with insecti- Experts say it is possible people in of the mosquitoes passing the dengue cide. the region have developed immunity to virus on to humans. The health ministry issued a travel the virus, though there is no scientifi c Initial fi ndings about the impact of warning for those planning to visit evidence to support that. the experiment on the spread of den- Latin America. In Yogyakarta, the EDP scientists gue have prompted Indonesian and Funded partially by the Bill and hope to expand the project to test for Australian scientists to scale up this Melinda Gates Foundation, the EDP is both dengue and Zika viruses among programme to include Zika. also testing its methods in Vietnam. 100,000 people this year, a 25-fold in- “We already have evidence in our It is at the most advanced stage in crease from their pilot tests. labs that the method that impedes the Indonesia, a tropical country that has But challenges remain, they say, in- ability of dengue to grow in the mos- the world’s second-highest number of cluding convincing the public that the quito also works with the Zika virus,” annual dengue cases after Brazil. trials are safe and securing funding Scott O’Neill, director of the Eliminate Limited testing capabilities and the from the government to take the pro- Dengue Programme (EDP) told Reu- usually mild symptoms that accompa- gramme nationwide. ters, adding that the research is pend- ny the Zika virus have raised concern It will be at least three years before ing reviews from peers in the scientifi c the number of people infected with the they see any results in the fi eld. community. little-known disease may be hugely “The challenge is not necessarily Much remains unknown about Zika, under-reported in Indonesia, authori- including the Zika virus (in the trial),” including whether the virus causes ties say. said Utarini. “The challenge is scal- birth defects. The only case in recent years was ing up ... which will mean much more The World Health Organisation that of a man who tested positive in work in the fi eld, communicating with (WHO) declared the outbreak an in- 2015 and is suspected to have contract- the public and getting the community ternational health emergency on Feb- ed the virus locally, on Sumatra island. to agree.” Gulf Times Sunday, February 7, 2016 15 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA N Korea advances rocket launch window

AFP UN sanctions prohibit North Seoul Korea from any launch using bal- listic missile technology. While the prospective launch orth Korea’s widely-con- dates were changed, there was no demned launch of a long- amendment to the 7am-midday Nrange rocket could happen (2230-0330 GMT) daily window. within a matter of hours, after That means the rocket could Pyongyang shortened and brought blast off during the biggest annual forward the start of the launch US sports event of the year - the window to today morning. Superbowl, which kicks off at 8am An updated notifi cation sent tomorrow, Pyongyang time. yesterday by Pyongyang to UN Predictions of an imminent A video frame grab from CTI TV shows an aerial view of the site of a collapsed building in the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan. agencies - a copy of which was launch have been bolstered by re- released by the South Korean gov- cent satellite images of fuel tankers ernment - said the launch would at the Sohae satellite launch com- now take place between today and plex in northwestern North Korea. February 14. The initial window The US and its allies have warned Massive Taiwan quake topples buildings; 13 dead so far announced by the North last Tues- Pyongyang it would pay a heavy day had been February 8-25. price for pushing ahead with the The planned satellite launch launch, but analysts say the North’s AFP diff erent parts of the city by falling de- the toppled buildings fell against the out of her crushed home, while another has been slammed by the interna- timing has been carefully calculated Taipei bris, the agency said. other two blocks in the complex, crush- tied clothes together to lower himself to tional community as a disguised to minimise the repercussions. Around 800 troops have been mobi- ing them. safety, local media reported. ballistic missile test that amounts With the international commu- lised to help the rescue eff ort with one Wang Chien-ming came from Yunlin Cranes towered over the disaster zone to another serious violation of UN nity still struggling to fi nd a united elatives of missing residents from elderly woman plucked from the rubble county to the north of Tainan to fi nd his with diggers trying to move slabs of resolutions, following the North’s response to the North’s January 6 a 16-storey apartment complex, by a crane late Saturday night. sister and her family. concrete as rescuers painstakingly freed nuclear test last month. nuclear test, the rocket launch - Rfelled yesterday by a powerful A senior army offi cial at the scene said “My sister, her husband and their survivors young and old from the ruins. The brief updated notice sent by while provocative - is unlikely to earthquake in Taiwan that killed 13 peo- around 20 were still trapped in one of the child live on the third fl oor and I haven’t Meanwhile groups of people chanted Pyongyang off ered no reason for substantially up the punitive ante. ple, were praying for miracles yesterday buildings. heard any news since I arrived here. I prayers at the site, accompanied by a the date change. North Korea last launched a as rescuers scoured the rubble for sur- Liang Chuan-shun, deputy fi re bureau will keep waiting for as long as it takes. Buddhist nun. “The Seoul government believes long-range rocket in December vivors. chief for Tainan, told AFP the search was I won’t give up hope.” Eight shelters have been set up around that (North Korea) completed its 2012, placing an Earth observation The cluster of buildings in the historic now “a race against time” and would Offi cials said there were 256 peo- the city, with over 100 people taking ref- launch preparation, such as fuel- satellite in orbit. southern city of Tainan were full of fam- continue through the night. ple registered as living in the complex, uge there, while restaurants and hotels ling the rocket after erecting it Western intelligence experts ilies who had gathered for Lunar New “Some rooms in the building were which contained 96 apartments. off ered free food and rooms to residents. on a launch pad after considering said that satellite had never func- Year celebrations when it collapsed, rented to students who would not reg- More than 250 have been rescued so Offi cials said several blocks had col- various circumstances,” South Ko- tioned properly, and argued that with residents still trapped inside yes- ister with the census authorities - we’re far, with more than 40 hospitalised. lapsed or half collapsed in other parts of rean news agency Yonhap quoted this proved the mission’s scientifi c terday night and the death toll rising. not sure how many others might still be Interior minister Chen Wei-jen said the city, with some buildings left leaning a defence ministry offi cial as say- veneer was a sham. Tainan bore the brunt of the 6.4 mag- left within,” he said. he feared there may have been more at alarming angles. ing late yesterday. South Korea’s The fl ight plan coordinates nitude quake and the disaster zone cen- Relatives huddled by the ruins yester- people in the building than usual as fam- Across Tainan, more than 400 people military was on alert and ready to for the upcoming launch are al- tres around the residential complex con- day night, hoping for news of their loved ily members would have returned to cel- were injured, with over 60 hospitalised. respond, Yonhap reported another most identical to those followed taining almost 100 homes which were ones. ebrate the Lunar New Year holidays next Around 250,000 were still without ministry offi cial as saying. by the three-stage Unha-3 rocket toppled. “I was woken up by the quake and week. water, authorities said, and more than Any launch would now take place launched in 2012 - suggesting the The four blocks at the Wei-kuan called my brother’s mobile - no-one Residents told of their horror as the 2,000 homes without electricity. before the February 16 birthday of same carrier would be used again. complex were left lying on their sides answered and I feared something was quake hit, with survivors pulled bleed- The quake struck at a depth of 10km late leader Kim Jong-Il, the father The separated fi rst stage was with twisted metal girders exposed and wrong,” said Huang Yu-liang who lives ing and crying from the ruins, some just at around 4am (2000 GMT Friday), of current leader Kim Jong-Un. predicted to fall in the Yellow Sea clouds of dust rising from the jumbled near the site and is waiting for news of in their underwear. 39km northeast of Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s The North insists its space pro- off the west coast of South Korea, concrete. his brother, sister-in-law and their two “The quake was really powerful - it second-largest city. gramme is purely scientifi c in followed by a second stage splash- Among the 11 people killed when the children. shook up and down, left and right and Taiwan lies near the junction of two nature, but the US and allies, in- down in the Philippine Sea. apartment buildings collapsed were “I rushed here and saw the collapsed even in a circle. It was terrifying,” one tectonic plates and is regularly hit by cluding South Korea, say its rocket Despite Pyongyang’s bellicose a 10-day-old baby girl and two other building and I was in shock. Their build- elderly woman at the scene who was earthquakes. launches are aimed at developing claims to the contrary, the North is children, the National Fire Agency ing is at the bottom (of the wreckage). I waiting for news of a missing friend told The island’s worst quake in recent an inter-continental ballistic mis- still seen as being years away from said. am praying for miracles.” AFP. decades was 7.6 magnitude in Septem- sile (ICBM) capable of striking the developing a credible inter-conti- The other two victims were killed in Rescue workers told AFP that two of One survivor used a hammer to break ber 1999, killing around 2,400 people. US mainland. nental ballistic missile.

Two new Zika cases in Australia Australia will intensify testing for the Zika virus in Year of the Monkey Queensland state where Aedes mosquitoes are found, authorities said yesterday, adding that two new cases among local residents were the result of travel to aff ected countries. Queensland’s government has earmarked A$400,000 (US$283,000) to boost laboratory capacity, particularly in the northeastern city of Townsville, where testing will begin on March 1. Queensland Health Minister Cameron Dick said the state had to be prepared for more cases of Zika, linked to thousands of birth defects in Brazil. Ten cases of the virus have been reported in the state in the past two years. The mosquitoes that transmit Zika are the Aedes mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) which are present in north Queensland and also transmit dengue fever. “At this stage, Zika is not in any mosquitoes in Queensland that we’re aware of,” Dick told a news conference. A woman and a child in Queensland, who separately tested positive for Zika after returning to Australia from El Salvador and Samoa respectively, are recovering well, Queensland’s chief medical off icer Jeanette Young said. She said they had not travelled to northern Queensland, where a mosquito could bite them and transmit the virus, meaning Fireworks light up the night sky over the Sydney Opera House as it glows red as part of their infection represented no public health threat. celebrations for the upcoming Lunar New Year of the Monkey.

Aussie state PM off ers to take in 267 asylum seekers

he premier of an Australian to Australia from Nauru island for families to Nauru is not the Austral- “This is fantastic wonderful state yesterday off ered to look medical treatment. ian way ... It’s wrong. Medical pro- news,” Pamela Curr, an advocate at Tafter a group of asylum seek- “Victoria stands ready to assist fessionals tell us this. Humanitarian the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre ers facing repatriation to a camp on a and care for the children and their agencies tell us this,” he said. said in an e-mailed statement. “First remote Pacifi c island, adding to op- families,” Andrews wrote in a letter Under Australia’s immigration legal, churches, community groups, position to the federal government’s to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull policy, asylum seekers attempting to grandmothers, unions, schools, and policy of off shore detention. that Andrews posted on his Twitter come by boat are intercepted and sent now a state premier.” Daniel Andrews, premier of Vic- account. to camps on Nauru or on Manus island The government justifi es its tough toria state, called on the federal His state would take full respon- in Papua New Guinea. They are not policy on asylum seekers saying it government not to return the 267 sibility for their housing, health and off ered resettlement in Australia. prevents deaths at sea by discourag- refugees, including 80 children and education, he said. Refugee rights groups praised An- ing others from making the journey their families, who had been brought “Sending these children and their drews for his letter. and many voters approve of it. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, February 7, 2016 BRITAIN ‘Violent’ mental health patient is on the loose

Evening Standard world of rugby for their support over the Three bouncers accused of killing London last three months. a man by pinning him down in an “ex- He wrote: “Family were outstanding but tremely dangerous” restraint outside a most of all thank you to my amazing wife Vauxhall nightclub have been cleared of olice are searching for a mental Gemma Carter for her constant love and manslaughter. health patient who is “known to be support over what must have been, frank- Aspiring pilot Adam Hird, from Epping, Inside STK London Pviolent” and has failed to return to a ly, a hellacious time for her. passed out as the doormen held him down hospital unit. “The rumours are true. I was discharged for around six minutes after he was re- Asad Taibzadah, 32, left St Ann’s Hos- from hospital yesterday but still need to fused entry to No 65 club in the early hours pital in Haringey, north London, on get better with physio stuff . of Sunday June 15 2014. unescorted leave at 10.15am on Friday “Finally, a comment about today’s sen- Paramedics battled to save 30-year-old morning. tencing. Two years was about what we said Hird, who was taken to hospital, where he He was due to arrive back 30 minutes would be the sentence. So there’s nothing later died from asphyxiation. Tips being later but has not been seen since. more to add on that. The three doormen Mark Pantallaresco, He had been detained under the Mental “If you’re after a rant, you’re in the 51, Lewis Thorne, 22, and Sebastiano Ra- Health Act. wrong place.” gusa, 31, were all acquitted of manslaugh- Scotland Yard warned the public to not Investigating offi cer PC Angus Hand- ter by gross negligence after a trial at the to approach Taibzadah and to call 999 if he Police are searching for Asad Taibzadah ley from Tower Hamlets said: “This was Old Bailey. ‘diverted to is spotted. a despicable and unprovoked attack, ag- Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC told Taibzadah is of south Asian appearance, by off ered to shake his hand before launch- gravated by the cowardly deception em- the jurors: “Ragusa held his legs whilst 5ft 6ins tall, of medium build and has ing another volley of blows. ployed by Flanagan to take the victim off Thorne and Pantallaresco held Hird’s body shoulder-length black hair. The , who had travelled to guard. and head respectively. He was last seen wearing black trousers, London from Manchester that day to cover “Flanagan’s actions have caused irrepa- “A number of those who witnessed what restaurant a grey jacket, black jumper and brown the England vs New Zealand rugby league rable damage to the victim’s life. He now was going on saw that Hird had stopped shoes. test match, was left critically ill and taken faces a long road to recovery. This attack struggling and told Thorne, Pantallaresco He is believed to have links to King’s to hospital with serious head injuries fol- has had a devastating impact on the vic- and Ragusa this. They eventually realised Cross and Harrow. lowing the attack. tim’s friends and family. I can only hope that Hird was unconscious and released A sports journalist who was savagely Today, James Flanagan, 35, of Marsden today’s sentence serves as some small him.” managers’ beaten and left fi ghting for life in hospital Street, Kentish Town, was given a two year comfort to them.” Hird had battled with depression for has been discharged in time to see his at- sentence at Snaresbrook Crown Court af- A second man, aged 22, has been some time and, on the night he died, he Evening Standard with the revelation that tips tacker jailed for two years today. ter admitting causing GBH. charged with common assault, obstruct- had been at a social event for fellow suff er- London left on credit or debit cards are Gary Carter, 35, struck his head on the It came as Carter revealed that he had ing an emergency worker and a public or- ers at the nearby Riverside restaurant. apparently subject to a 6 per pavement after he was repeatedly punched fi nally been released from hospital after der off ence towards paramedics while they Thorne, of Meads Way, Brentwood, Es- cent “admin fee”. in Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, three months. were treating Mr Carter. sex; Ragusa, of Lewisham, south London; he owners of one of Before 2009 many res- early on November 6 last year. In a post today on Facebook, he thanked He will appear at Stratford Magistrates’ and Pantallaresco, of Tadworth, Surrey, all London’s most exclu- taurant chains used tips to At one point, his attacker tricked Carter friends, colleagues and people from the Court on May 11. denied the charges against them. Tsive steak houses have pay dining room and kitchen been accused of using the staff their basic salaries, but service charge left by diners this practice was made ille- to top up salaries of managers gal. However, unions suggest rather than handing it all to bosses are simply paying hun- waiters. dreds of more senior employ- STK London in Aldwych, ees the minimum wage and whose celebrity customers still using tips to top up pay to have included Towie star Jas- commensurate levels. min Walia and singer Alexan- Unite national offi cer Rhys dra Burke, pays managers the McCarthy said: “We believe same minimum wage rate as customers will be outraged waiters, bartenders and other to learn that money from the workers, according to docu- service charge, which they ments passed to the Unite un- have paid in good faith, is be- ion and seen by the Standard. ing used as a monthly bonus The restaurant, where a to top up the wages of four “cowboy steak” costs £65, senior managers to the tune of adds 15% — raised last year £50,000 a year each.” from 12.5% — to every bill He added that the union’s and the money pooled in a so- attempts to clarify where the called “tronc” system. service charge is going has The tronc is supposed to be been ignored. used to share out tips equally The American steakhouse is to employees, but instead, part of the fi ve star ME Lon- STK London uses some of the don hotel, owned by the Span- pot of cash to boost managers’ ish hotel group Melia. salaries to around £50,000, Guillaume Marly, general according to staff at the res- manager at ME London, said: taurant. “ME London follows standard It is claimed less than half of hospitality industry practice all the service charge collected through the use of the tronc goes to the 70-strong dining system. We are currently re- room workforce, with the ma- viewing the service charge jority handed to managers. policy and have made great The union has condemned progress in discussions with the practice and is planning a our employees and the union, protest outside the restaurant to ensure it refl ects staff and tonight over the issue, along customers’ views.”

Burglar ordered to pay back £160,000

Topshop was evacuated after reports of a fire. Evening Standard They were caught after the London NCA ordered an investiga- tion into a corrupt crimi- nal defence lawyer who was prolifi c burglar has sentenced for perverting the been ordered to pay course of justice. Aback £160,000 of his Lloyd was one of the law- Shoppers evacuated after ‘fi re’ ill-gotten gains or face an ex- yer’s close associates and tra 18 months in jail. when offi cers raided his home Daniel Lloyd, 45, from they found evidence on his Bromley, was sentenced to fi ve computer of Internet searches years in prison in March 2014, for golf club thefts, locker se- in Oxford Circus garment store following an investigation by curity and lock picking. the National Crime Agency. Speaking after the criminal Evening Standard tackle the blaze while motorists sat in Half of the main deck was damaged by Mira Simsiö, 29, a student at the nearby The burglar lived a luxury duo were jailed, Steve Bald- London lengthy tailbacks. the blaze before it was put out at 1.50pm London College of Communication, told lifestyle, with a house worth win, NCA head of regional in- A spokeswoman for Essex County Fire and a pair of cats died on board, the Lon- the Standard: “The workmen shut down more than £800,000, and a vestigations, said: “These men and Rescue Service said: “Firefi ghters are don Fire Brigade said. the road, they blocked it off and the heli- fl eet of high value cars includ- were professional burglars he Topshop store was evacuated tackling a fi re between junctions 28 and No one was on the 124ft boat when the copter came down. ing a Bentley and a Range Rover. who tried to mask their iden- yesterday after reports of a fi re at 27 of the anticlockwise carriageway of the fi re started. “Everyone was running around. I just He funded his high-fl ying tities by avoiding CCTV cam- Tthe Oxford Circus store. M25. Station Manager Andy Walton said: thought ‘Oh my god, something bad has existence by carrying out bur- eras, changing their clothes Scores of shoppers were pictured fl eeing “The fi re has engulfed a car transporter “The fi re boat was instrumental in our happened’. It’s very sad.” glaries at golf clubs up and to enter the same clubs over the shop shortly after 3.30pm yesterday. carrying nine cars. On arrival the incident ability to fi ght this fi re due to the location Another witness, Paul Brocklehurst, down the country. and over again, and using false Lily Southall claimed she saw the fi re at commander reported that the transporter of the leisure boat. tweeted earlier: “Construction workers at Together with an accom- number plates on their vehi- the Offi ce store in the basement of Top- was completely alight.” “Having it meant we were able to pump Elephant and Castle helping emergency plice, Joe McCaughey, of King cles. shop. She added the lorry was on the hard water directly from the Thames and bring services after road collision. Everyone Henry’s Drive, New Adding- “When we discovered they She said: “It was on the very bottom shoulder but heat from the fl ames had it under control quickly.” pitching in.” ton, Croydon, Lloyd carried were the wanted men from the fl oor, in the Offi ce footwear department. damaged at least one motorway lane. A woman has died after being hit by The lorry driver was arrested on sus- out a series of raids across 17 appeal, the NCA worked with We could smell something burning then She also said crews’ eff orts had been a lorry at a major south London junction. picion of causing death by dangerous counties. police forces and golf clubs saw the fi re... It was mayhem.” hampered by poor water supply. No inju- The woman, a pedestrian believed to be driving and is being held at a police sta- The pair were found to have across the country to gather The London Fire Brigade confi rmed it ries were reported. in her 80s, was struck at about 12.35pm on tion. carried out at least 36 separate evidence. had been called to Oxford Circus and was Delayed motorists vented their frustra- Friday at New Kent Road at the Elephant Drivers were being warned to avoid the burglaries, including four in “We proved they had stolen pictured at the scene. tion on Twitter. and Castle roundabout - just weeks after area, with closures at New Kent Road and Lancashire in a single day, al- equipment from hundreds of The Nike store was also reportedly Another posted: “Well over an hour into it was overhauled by Transport for London Newington Causeway. though police believe they could golfers, which they disposed evacuated. this traffi c jam and its got to the point were in a bid to improve safety. The Elephant and Castle junction was be responsible for many more. of here and overseas. Our fo- People at the scene claimed light fi ttings the van drivers are now out and polishing Traffi c was brought to a standstill as an converted from a roundabout into a two- The duo moved around cus is now the fi nancial side caught fi re. their lights... Longhaul” air ambulance landed in the middle of the way system by TfL in December. clubhouses in golf attire and of the investigation and strip- A huge car transporter burst into fl ames A blaze onboard a boat at an exclu- junction, but medics were unable to save TfL said the work was aimed at making even chatted to other golfers ping them of their assets.” and forced the closure of a major section of sive private pier near Chelsea and Fulham the woman. She was pronounced dead at “the area safer for all road users, including before fi nding their way into Lloyd of Holwood Estate, the M25 this morning. raged for nearly three hours this afternoon the scene. pedestrians and cyclists”. changing rooms and raid- Westerham Road, Keston was The HGV carrying nine cars was en- and killed two cats. Witnesses said workmen did their best The project included changes to pedes- ing lockers, taking full sets of sentenced to fi ve years in pris- gulfed by fi re shortly after 7am yesterday. Around 35 fi re fi ghters were sent to Im- to help by blocking off the road so the heli- trian crossings and is about 70% com- golf clubs, shoes, clothing and on, while McCaughey, who Seven crews of fi refi ghters were dis- perial Wharf Marina at 11.15am this morn- copter could land, before any emergency plete, with work expected to be fi nished in even cherry-picking the more was 26 at the time, received patched from east London and Essex to ing. services had arrived. the coming weeks. expensive clubs. three years in jail. Gulf Times Sunday, February 7, 2016 17 BRITAIN/IRELAND Protest over NHS Weigh-in at Dublin stormed by gunmen

Evening Standard London

wo gunmen disguised as Swat team police offi cers Tstormed an Irish hotel and shot three men in a brazen daylight rampage. One man was killed in the Gunmen storm the hotel. shoot-out and two others were injured when the men armed what you see on crime dramas.” with assault rifl es opened fi re Bystanders in the lobby at a boxing weigh-in at the Re- of the Regency Hotel on the gency Hotel in Dublin. Swords Road, around two miles In total four men in disguises north of Dublin city centre, de- carried out the attack. At least scribed cowering for their lives one of them was dressed as a as the attackers fi red multiple woman. rounds at the men. Today a major manhunt was Kevin McAnena, a sports under way to fi nd the attack- reporter who was covering the National Health Service supporters wear surgical masks as they take part in a demonstration in central London. The march saw thousands listen to speeches from medical ers, who burst into the venue, event, said one of two gunmen professionals, as well as designer Vivienne Westwood and actress Vanessa Redgrave, before heading to Downing Street where they staged a silent protest. where up to 300 fans including pointed a “big, massive” gun at children had gathered for the him while he sought cover be- event on Friday ahead of a fi ght hind the reception desk. between Jamie Kavanagh and McAnena said: “I was Antonio Jao Bento. shouting even before he came Bystanders ran for their lives over, ‘don’t shoot, don’t shoot’ as the gang, one of whom was ... I’ve never felt terror like it.” disguised as a “woman and McAnena said he saw a gun- wearing an auburn wig” and man fi ring into a victim’s leg. the others, dressed as “crime “The man who is now dead drama” police offi cers, opened - he was no more than six foot fi re in the lobby. from me. Labour MP ditches The victims, aged in their It is believed a number of 20s and 30s were taken to hos- gangland fi gures were expected pital where a man in his 30s, to be attending the weigh-in. who was “riddled” with bul- Speculation has centred on a lets, later died. feud between Dublin gangsters Gardai chief superintend- and an Irish criminal outfi t ent Barry O’Brien said it was a based in the south of Spain. “particularly nasty incident” The boxing chief was ada- ‘Vote Leave’ front that had involved “severe mant the attackers were not weapons”. targeting the boxers gathered The Leave movement is for the He said: “Two individuals for the weigh-in, but other in- moment fragmented were wearing what was de- dividuals who were hit in the scribed as police-type uni- hotel reception. forms. In that regard it was The gunmen fl ed the attack Evening Standard described as a SWAT uniform in a van, which was later found London with metal helmets, similar to set alight nearby.

enior Labour MP Kate Hoey has led a dramatic walkout from one of the Smain groups campaigning for Britain to quit the European Union, with an attack Premier’s aide on on “tittle tattle” and infi ghting. The entire Labour Leave campaign team was expected to make a statement later to- terror database day saying it would not longer be part of the Vote Leave group. Its decision is a bodyblow to Vote Leave’s Evening Standard list has had material impact hopes of being offi cially designated as lead London on my life. campaigners in the forthcoming referen- “List authors don’t even dum, which carries £7mn of public fund- know diff erence between Mus- ing and rights to TV and media coverage. ne of David Cameron’s lim/ex-Islamist/Islamist (all The meltdown came amid strains in the key anti-extremism legal) and a terrorist (illegal).” cabinet, with Iain Duncan Smith said to be Oadvisers has been The secret database, which increasingly unwilling to stay silent about placed on a database of poten- was made public by Vice News, his private disquiet about the draft deal on tial terrorists. is reportedly used by 300 state EU reforms being trumpeted as a “suc- Maajid Nawaz, a former Lib- agencies around the world and cess” by the prime minister. David Cameron with his Polish counterpart Beata Szydlo in Warsaw . eral Democrat parliamentary 49 of the 50 biggest banks. A former cabinet colleague told the candidate in Hampstead and Other names on the list in- Standard: “I don’t think Iain will be able Elliott, being downgraded from the Vote der the cross-party Grassroots Out cam- The survey says nearly a fi fth — 19% — Kilburn, and chair of anti- clude Council on American- to keep quiet if David Cameron carries on Leave board. paign. Its departure is important because are undecided.Cameron set off on a fresh extremism organisation Quil- Islamic Relations (CAIR) exec- using the next fortnight to say this deal is a Vauxhall MP Ms Hoey told the Stand- cross-party support is vital to Vote Leave’s diplomatic dash round Europe to push for liam, appears on a list of names utive Nihad Awad and former success, when Iain’s face in the Commons ard: “Some people in Vote Leave have been bid for lead status. support from counterparts in Poland and on a database used by banks to World Bank and Bank of Eng- made clear he does not share that view.” more interested in tittle tattle and person- Hoey was given a standing ovation by Denmark ahead of the crunch meeting on blacklist potential customers. land economist Mohamed Chancellor George Osborne is said to be al fi ghts. I’m only interested in a vote to get Tories last night at a packed Grassroots the proposals later this month. In a series of tweets Na- Iqbal Asaria, who was awarded urging Cameron to go for a June 23 refer- out of the EU. Out meeting in Kettering. A rally for 2,500 Culture secretary John Whittingdale waz said that being listed on a CBE for services to interna- endum while the Brexit campaign groups “Labour Leave will be independent- is being staged in Manchester tonight. has become the most senior fi gure in the World-Check, which is owned tional development. are in disarray. ly working with our Labour supporters A YouGov poll claimed support for party to suggest he is ready to campaign by Thomson Reuters, has had a Nawaz has admitted to Hoey’s decision follows months of toxic across the country. We want to work with Brexit has increased since Cameron struck for Britain to quit since the proposals were “material impact” on his life. holding “Islamic extremist” backbiting and counter- briefi ngs which everybody across the country who wish to his draft deal. Some 45% said they would put on the table. He wrote: “I can now con- views in his youth, but has climaxed earlier this week in two top of- leave the anti-democrat EU.” vote to leave, with 36% wanting Britain to Asked if he would rule out backing firm for first time that the since changed his outlook dra- fi cials, Dominic Cummings and Matthew Labour Leave intends to campaign un- remain. Brexit, he replied: “I wouldn’t.” existence of this McCarthyist matically. Rapist Tube driver jailed 20 years after attacks

Evening Standard “Russell Chandler may have thought he killed on his fi rst night out in central He agreed that the incident had been a He said the victim was on life sup- London had got away with these terrible crimes London. “wake-up call” – the words of commit- port for about 48 hours and has been but he has now been convicted. Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes faced tee chairman Meric Apak – and said the left with permanent liver damage, as “He pleaded guilty to indecently as- losing its late licence this week after venue had already responded by bring- well as being deeply psychologically rapist Tube driver who attacked saulting the two women but was not police demanded a licence review over ing in a raft of security measures, in- scarred. two women 20 years ago has fi - prepared to admit that he had raped one the attack in October, when the venue cluding metal detectors and ID scanners. However, after watching CCTV Anally been jailed after DNA taken of them and attempted to rape the other. had hosted an urban music DJ night. It has also re-evaluated all of its club footage, the council felt the fight in- last year identifi ed him as the culprit of “We were determined that he would An 18-year-old from Barnet nearly nights and cancelled a regular hip hop side the venue was more of a “scrap” the crimes. be held responsible for the full extent of died after being knifed 20 metres from event called Bowlin’ With The Homies than a mass brawl, and that bouncers Russell Simon Chandler, 41, from his crimes and proceeded with the case the venue, shortly after it was emptied as a result. The event posed too great a dealt with the situation reasonably Watford, raped a 34-year-old woman Chandler was snared when DNA taken to trial. by bouncers due to a fi ght inside. Police risk according to the venue’s cautious well. on May 9, 1994 and attempted to rape a last year matched traces left at crime “More than 20 years after their terri- say the victim had not been involved new approach, due to the type of crowd Some of the claims made by police 22-year-old woman two days later. scenes in 1994. fying ordeals the victims showed great in the fi ght and no arrests have been attracted. were also called into question. Offi c- His DNA was left at both crime bravery in giving evidence against their made. Dalton said: “We’re relieved we ers said a man was wielding a stick like scenes but he was only traced when he tigated as a cold case in 2005, no new attacker in court. However, the venue was allowed to haven’t lost the late licence, if those a weapon, but it was in fact a cleaner was arrested last June. DNA taken when leads appeared. “I would like to thank them for their keep its 3am closing time after Cam- conditions were imposed it would have with a mop. he was arrested matched traces left at It was only when Chandler was ar- support of the prosecution and I hope den Council agreed at the hearing on made it highly unprofi table. The council also accepted that staff the crime scenes. rested last June for a diff erent off ence that they fi nally feel that they have Thursday that it could not be blamed “It was never going to be workable had separated the two fi ghting groups, On Friday, Chandler was jailed for 13 that his DNA was taken and loaded onto some sense of justice.” for the attack. and would have been unfair – and that’s ejecting them via diff erent exits. Police years at Harrow Crown Court. a national database. Chandler was sentenced to 13 years Councillors also rejected calls from what the committee realised. admitted it could not be confi rmed that His first victim was attacked and Police arrested him 10 days later after for the rape and nine and a half years police to force the venue to up security “We already have [seen this as a the knife attacker had even been at the raped as she walked through an un- his records matched those left at both for the attempted rape, to run concur- by employing large numbers of bounc- wake-up call] and implemented many venue. derpass at Watford Way, Mill Hill and scenes in 1994. rently, and will be placed on the Sex Of- ers at all times. new things.” However, councillor Apak ended the the second was also attacked in Mill At court Chandler pleaded guilty to fenders Register for life. Speaking afterwards, owner Jon Speaking during the hearing on hearing by telling Dalton: “It’s highly Hill as she walked home from a leisure two sexual assaults but was found guilty A popular bowling alley has Dalton said he was relieved as the po- Thursday, detective constable Simon likely that the perpetrator has come centre. of rape and attempted rape at his trial. scrapped hip hop and urban music lice’s proposed conditions would have Radcliff e said that hip hop events do from your premises. The attacks were linked but no sus- Kay Scudder, Crown Prosecution nights after receiving a “wake-up call” threatened the business by making it carry an “element of risk” and can at- “Take this as a wake-up call, it could pect was identifi ed. When it was inves- Service London reviewing lawyer, said: when a patron was stabbed and nearly “highly unprofi table”. tract a “criminal vein”. have ended tragically.” Gulf Times 18 Sunday, February 7, 2016 EUROPE Body of Italian student found in Cairo sent home AFP/Reuters the outskirts of Cairo early on ecutor has opened an inquiry and ed Arabic and Arab literature, Rome Wednesday. a new autopsy is scheduled. was from Fiumicello near Udine People attend a memorial for Regeni outside the Italian embassy in Cairo. Egypt’s public prosecutor An initial Egyptian prosecu- in northeastern Italy. Hossam Nassar said he had been tion report seen by an AFP re- He was in Cairo doing research the rights of Egyptian workers, Egypt in the run-up to the an- on the outskirts of Cairo and he body of a 28-year-old murdered. porter said Regeni’s body had for his doctoral thesis on trade and for the Egyptian revolution. niversary of the anti-Mubarak later beheaded him, but such in- Italian student who had Italian Justice Minister And- bruises and injuries, including unions in Egypt and was last seen The least we can do is stand here uprising, with police detaining cidents are rare and there was a Tdisappeared in Cairo last rea Orlando was with members apparent cigarette-burn marks when he left his home with the and say that we consider him to activists and warning people not heavy police presence in down- week and was found dead was re- of Regeni’s family when his body near the eyes and on the feet. intention of travelling by metro be one of us,” said activist Sally to demonstrate. No signifi cant town Cairo when Regeni went patriated yesterday to Italy which arrived back in Rome yesterday. Italy’s ambassador to Egypt, to meet a friend in the city centre. Toma. “Unfortunately he died protests took place. missing. has launched an investigation “I am here to convey the gov- Maurizio Massari, also reported Dozens of people gathered at the same way Egyptians die every Rights groups say Egyptians On Thursday, the Italian for- into his death. ernment’s condolences ... but signs of torture after a visit to the the Italian embassy in Cairo yes- day.” are often detained by police on eign ministry summoned the Giulio Regeni, a Cambridge also to confi rm the government’s Cairo morgue. terday to mourn Regeni. Il Manifesto, a left-wing news- little evidence and beaten or co- Egyptian ambassador to express University PhD student, had determination to shed light “I saw wounds, some bruises A group of about 50 people in- paper based in Rome, published erced. concern about the student’s gone missing on January 25 while quickly (on Regeni’s death) and and burns. There is no doubt that cluding friends and Egyptian po- Regeni’s fi nal article on Friday, Scores have disappeared since death, and Prime Minister Mat- on his way to meet a friend. bring those responsible to jus- this boy had been violently beat- litical activists gathered in front describing diffi culties faced by 2013. Egypt denies allegations of teo Renzi telephoned Sisi, asking His half-naked body which tice,” Orlando told journalists. en and tortured,” he told the Cor- of the embassy, laying fl owers unions in Egypt under President police brutality. for a joint investigation and the showed signs of torture was Italian investigators have ar- riere della Sera newspaper. and lighting candles. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Last year, Islamic State mili- swift return of Regeni’s body to found in a roadside ditch on rived in Cairo, the Rome pros- Regeni, whose studies includ- “Giulio was here fi ghting for Tensions had been high in tants kidnapped a Croatian man Italy. Five killed Top cyber-crime ring disrupted after raid in Austrian on Moscow offi ces

By Joseph Menn, Reuters who had no knowledge of spe- Washington cifi c arrests. The Dyre investigation avalanche in Russia is being aided by ussian authorities in Kaspersky Lab, a top cyber- Reuters/DPA/AFP survivors with the help of spe- November raided of- security fi rm. Vienna cially trained dogs and four heli- Rfi ces associated with a A person close to the compa- copters have been deployed to Moscow fi lm distribution and ny said it would reveal details the scene of the accident. production company as part about the case at its annual ive people were killed in an The risk of avalanches in Tyrol of a crackdown on one of the conference for security experts avalanche that buried 17 yesterday was signifi cant at level world’s most notorious fi nan- starting today. Fpeople from the Czech Re- three on the fi ve-point hazard cial hacking operations, ac- Adding further intrigue to public in Austria’s skiing region scale. cording to three sources with the November raid is that 25th of Tyrol yesterday, police said. Slabs of snow had also be- knowledge of the matter. Floor is in the midst of pro- The avalanche, which regional come loose and buried skiers in Cyber-security experts said ducing a fi lm called Botnet, a TV station ORF Tirol said was the German Alps, most of whom a password-stealing software cyber-crime thriller loosely 2km (1.25 miles) wide and 5m (16 were able to free themselves. program known as Dyre – be- based on a 2010 case in which feet) high, came down shortly af- Yesterday also saw a number lieved to be responsible for at 37 people in the United States ter noon at the Wattener Lizum of other avalanches – the result least tens of millions of dollars and elsewhere were charged in region, about 40km (25 miles) of instability caused by recent Rescue team members search in losses at fi nancial institu- a $3mn scam. southeast of Innsbruck in west- snowfall and a slight thaw – in for people buried yesterday by tions including Bank of Amer- Prosecutors in the 2010 case ern Austria. which skiers had to be rescued in an avalanche at the Wattener ica Corp and JPMorgan Chase touted the bust as a big win Search and rescue operations Austria’s Tyrol state, famed for Lizum, Austria. & Co - has not been deployed against organised cyber-crime. were still under way yesterday its ski resorts and winter sports. since the time of the raid. Tabloid media outlets loved afternoon, and it was unclear The deaths follow a string of Right: An avalanche warning Experts familiar with the the story, especially as pho- how many people were still miss- deadly snowslides in the French sign is pictured in Wattental situation said the case repre- tos circulated of one of the ing. Alps this season. valley in Austria’s skiing region sents Russia’s biggest eff ort to suspects, a blue-eyed Rus- Police had said earlier that In the most recent, fi ve soldiers of Tyrol. date to crack down on cyber- sian brunette named Kristina some people were injured, others from the French Foreign Legion crime. Svechinskaya, who was re- unharmed. died near the resort of Valfrejus teacher took the students onto a A spokesman for the Rus- ferred to by The Sun newspaper A skier had seen the avalanche on January 18 with a sixth dying closed skiing piste at the Deux- sian interior ministry’s cyber- in Britain as “the world’s sexi- from a distance and alerted the days later in hospital. Alpes resort. crime unit said that his depart- est hacker”. emergency services, local offi - Two French teenage students Seriously injured himself, he ment was not involved in the However, most of the peo- cials said. and a Ukrainian tourist were was later charged with involun- case. ple charged were lower-level Rescue teams are searching for also killed on January 14 when a tary manslaughter. The FSB, Russia’s main in- in the scam and the key fi gures telligence service, said it had were never named, let alone no immediate comment. arrested. Nikolay Volchkov, the chief The hackers used a variant of executive of the fi lm company the then-top program for hi- named 25th Floor, said he could jacking bank accounts, known Critic of Vatican leaves its sexual abuse panel not answer questions about the as Zeus, which law enforce- raid. ment sources say is related to Without an offi cial confi r- the present-day Dyre. By Philip Pullella, Reuters Saunders, a victim of sexual (SNAP) said that it shared Saun- ish instead of being defrocked mation, much remains a mys- Housed in a fashionable Vatican City abuse by a priest, did not imme- ders’ frustration with Vatican of- and handed over to authorities. tery. Moscow skyscraper, 25th Floor diately reply to a telephone mes- fi cials. Saunders has been spoken out Reuters could not determine distributes movies and tel- sage requesting a comment. “Pete has been a brave, hon- on several issues in the past few a direct link between the pro- evision shows in Russia and prominent British mem- His departure leaves only one est and tireless voice for kids and months. gram’s shutdown and the raid. neighboring countries as well ber of a papal advisory victim of sexual abuse by a cleric, victims,” it said in a statement. Last year, he criticised Francis The sources said that a as producing some of its own. Acommission on sexual Marie Collins of Ireland, sitting On the eve of the current for appearing to endorse parents number of people were ques- Last year’s distribution slate abuse by the clergy who has been on the commission, which has meeting, Saunders was quoted who spanked their children in or- tioned by the authorities but included The Runner, with Ni- outspokenly critical of the Vati- been slowed down by internal by the Los Angeles Times as say- der to discipline them. Reuters was unable to ascer- cholas Cage, and this April it is can has left the group, the Vati- disputes. ing that the previous meeting He also made waves when he tain further details, including slated to ship Exposed, a police can said yesterday. Saunders had been increas- last year was a “non-event” and said that Australian Cardinal whether there were arrests or corruption drama with Keanu A statement said that at a ingly critical of the commission, demanded that the Pope attend George Pell should be dismissed criminal charges. Reeves. commission meeting “it was de- which was set up in 2014. the current meeting. over allegations he failed to take Reuters has no evidence that Two people briefed on the cided” that Peter Saunders would Made up of clerics and lay “It will be outrageous if he action to protect children years Volchkov or the fi lm company November raid said it involved take a leave of absence. people from around the world, doesn’t attend, and I will say so ago. is implicated in any wrongdo- both 25th Floor’s offi ce and a Saunders, head of Britain’s Saunders: has left the papal its task is to help Pope Francis – it will be the end of the hon- Pell is now the Vatican’s econ- ing and couldn’t determine related neighbouring offi ce. National Association for People advisory commission on sexual establish “best practices” in dio- eymoon for Pope Francis,” the omy minister. precisely who is. Ilya Sachkov, chief executive Abused in Childhood, would now abuse. ceses around the world to root Los Angeles Times quoted him as Last April, Saunders and three Hackers targeting Western of Group-IB, a Moscow-based “consider how he might best out sex abuse in the church. saying. other lay commission members fi nancial institutions and in- computer security company, support the commission’s work”. Saunders had been asked to ad- Eight of the 17-member com- In a worldwide sex abuse scan- met with O’Malley to complain dividuals are rarely punished in said his fi rm was hired by 25th In a separate statement, com- vise the commission on the pos- mission are women. dal, which fi rst became promi- over the over the appointment of Russia. Floor to advise the Botnet di- mission president Cardinal Sean sible establishment of a victim The US-based Survivors Net- nent in Boston in 2001, abusers a bishop in Chile accused of cov- Consequently, the Novem- rector and writers on the fi ner O’Malley of Boston said that survivor panel. work of those Abused by Priests were shunted from parish to par- ering up abuse. ber raid is seen as potentially points of cyber-crime. a landmark event by Western Sachkov said he was initially cyber-crime watchers. approached at a security con- The Dyre hackers used a ference by Volchkov. range of tricks to insert so- “He asked if we would be phisticated computer code into interested in consulting with Ukraine fi nds guns linked to 2014 protest crackdown consumer Web browsers to a scriptwriter they would hire manipulate communications in the United States,” Sachkov between those customers and said. AFP tled parts from 23 Kalashnikov The weapons had been as- revolt against then-president The pro-Western government more than 400 fi nancial insti- Sachkov said he met with Kiev assault rifl es and a high-preci- signed to Berkut personnel who Viktor Yanukovych, who had that then took offi ce vowed to tutions, according to analysts Volchkov about half-a-dozen sion rifl e that had been assigned had been deployed in Kiev’s sparked anger by rejecting a pro- shed light on who ordered and at Dell SecureWorks. times to discuss aspects of the to a now-dissolved special police Maidan Square on February 20, posed association agreement carried out the shootings. But then Dyre stopped plot. krainian investigators anti-riot unit called the Berkut, 2014, when about 50 demonstra- with the European Union and Berkut agents have long been spreading, banking and secu- Then, last November, said yesterday that they they said. tors were killed, offi cials said. instead aligning himself with the accused of shooting demonstra- rity experts said. Sachkov got an urgent call from Uhad found a cache of The SBU security service and However, further tests will be Kremlin. tors, and the unit has been dis- “We have seen a disruption Volchkov, saying he needed to 24 guns implicated in a bloody the public prosecutor told re- needed to confi rm if they were More than a hundred people solved. over the last few months that meet. crackdown on pro-EU demon- porters that the guns had been actually used, said Sergi Gor- were killed in the violence. However, the probe is still is defi nitely consistent with “He was afraid. His col- strators in February 2014 that led found buried at a site on the out- batyuk, in charge of investigati- On February 22, 2014, the ongoing and no one has been successful law enforcement our was totally white,” said to the downfall of the country’s skirts of Kiev after they had been ions at the prosecutor’s offi ce. Ukrainian parliament voted to prosecuted – a lack of progress action,” said cyber-crime ex- Sachkov. “He knows there is pro-Russian leader. immersed in a nearby lake and The late February crackdown remove Yanukovych, who fl ed to that has stoked criticism both at pert John Miller of U.S.-based an ongoing investigation about The cache comprised disman- their serial numbers removed. was a climactic moment in the Russia. home and abroad. security fi rm iSight Partners, cyber-crime.” Gulf Times Sunday, February 7, 2016 19 EUROPE Austria and Hungary warn over migrant infl ux

AFP ion did not seem to fully realise Greece from Turkey, and then trip from Turkey to Greece and of a letter to that eff ect which edonia and Bulgaria,” Szijjarto Earlier this week, the EU said Amsterdam “how serious the situation is”. making their way through the an upsurge in fi ghting in Syria Schelling sent on January 25 to stressed. that Greece had to remedy a se- “I say this very clear – if we Balkans to Germany and other threatens to make the problem EU Commission President Jean- Hungary has taken the lead in ries of failings in order to re-es- do not manage to control the northern member states. even worse. Claude Juncker. calls for erecting a fence along tablish full control over the bor- ustria and Hungary have situation ... our only option will The infl ux has exposed sharp Fanning the controversy, The fi nance ministry was not Greece’s northern border in the der with Turkey and so preserve warned that if Greece be to co-operate with Slovenia, diff erences and called into ques- Austria media quoted Austrian immediately available for com- same way it built a razor-wire the Schengen area, prized as one Acannot control the fl ood Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia,” tion the future of the Schengen Finance Minister Hans Joerg ment. barrier along its own southern of the bloc’s greatest achieve- of refugees arriving from Tur- Kurz said after an informal meet- passport-free zone as several Schelling as demanding that Hungarian Foreign Minister frontier last year. ments. key then the EU should consider ing of EU foreign ministers in countries – among them Germa- Brussels foot a bill Vienna esti- Peter Szijjarto said separately Athens says that it is doing its If Greece failed to comply, then reinforcing the borders of their Amsterdam. ny, Austria, Hungary, and Swe- mates at €600mn ($670mn) for that the EU was “defenceless best but the numbers have over- Brussels could allow other mem- Balkan neighbours. More than a million migrants, den – have re-introduced border Austria taking in some 90,000 from the south”. whelmed the resources of a small ber states to extend border con- Austrian Foreign Minister Se- mostly Syrians fl eeing their controls. asylum-seekers last year, saying “If Greece is not ready or able country which is also struggling trols for up to two years. bastian Kurz, whose country has war-torn country, landed in the Despite repeated eff orts to halt that his country could only aff ord to protect the Schengen zone ... to get its economy back on track European Union offi cials say set a refugee cap of 37,500 for this 28-nation European Union last the infl ow, several thousand peo- to pay for 35,000. then we need another defence after a third debt bailout was they want to avoid this option at year, said that the European Un- year, most of them crossing into ple a day still make the dangerous Kurier daily reproduced part line, which is obviously Mac- agreed last year. all costs. Merkel urges better protection of EU’s external borders

Reuters Failing to protect the EU’s ex- Berlin ternal borders would jeopardise free movement of people which is the basis for the bloc’s wealth, erman Chancellor Angela Merkel added. Merkel has called for bet- In particular, the protection of Supporters of the Pegida movement demonstrate in front of royal castle in Warsaw with a banner reading Gter protection at the Eu- external borders is not turning ‘will not include Poland’. ropean Union’s external borders out very well where the EU has in order to maintain the pass- sea borders, she said, referring port-free Schengen zone. indirectly to Greece, which has Merkel, who opened her coun- seen a huge infl ux of migrants try’s borders to Syrians fl eeing and refugees coming in over wa- civil war last summer, is under ter via Turkey, without mention- increasing pressure to limit the ing the country by name. infl ux of migrants after more The European Commission than a million arrived in Germa- has warned Greece it could face Anti-migrant ny last year. more border controls with other A poll published this week states of the free-travel Schen- showed popular support for gen zone in May, if it does not Merkel had tumbled to a four- fi x “serious defi ciencies” in its and-a-half-year low with more management of the area’s exter- than 80% of Germans doubting nal frontier. her government had the refugee Merkel will travel to Ankara movement crisis under control. tomorrow to meet with Prime “We need to protect our exter- Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to try nal borders because we want to and fi nd a joint solution, includ- keep Schengen,” Merkel said in ing legal quotas for refugees in her weekly podcast. order to stop people traffi cking.

Several hundred protesters from the Dutch off shoot of German anti-immigration movement Pegida hoist national flags and shout stages rallies anti-Islam slogans in Amsterdam. Reuters/DPA/AFP German church urges Dresden ‘reduction’ in refugees German far-right’s ermany’s anti-Islam Peg- ida movement staged ral- Glies in several cities across AFP the world’s needy”, Marx added. Europe yesterday to protest the Frankfurt The question of how to re- language similar to arrival of hundreds of thousands spond to the migrant crisis, he of migrants from the Middle East asserted, should not solely be a and Africa. he German Catholic matter of “charity but also rea- The movement, whose name Church called for a reduc- son”. Nazis’, says Gabriel stands for Patriotic Europeans Ttion in the infl ux of refu- However, Marx also expressed Against the Islamisation of the gees arriving in Germany, saying concern at a rise in xenophobia West, originated in the eastern the country cannot take in “all in Germany amid the worst refu- Reuters with support for other far-right German city of Dresden in 2014, the world’s needy”, according to gee crisis that Europe has known Berlin groups, such as the anti-Islam with supporters seizing on a an interview published yester- since World War II. Pegida movement, which has surge in asylum-seekers to warn day. A recent example came when held regular rallies in protest at that Germany risks being over- Germany has been struggling Germany’s eurosceptic right- ermany’s far-right, led by the increase in refugee numbers. run by Muslims. to cope with 1.1mn asylum-seek- wing populist AfD party sug- the rising anti-immigrant Last year, dozens of protest- After almost fi zzling out early ers that arrived in 2015 and Berlin gested last week that police “if GAlternative for Germany ers shouted at Merkel and waved last year, the movement has re- People gather in Dresden to protest against a mass rally of the Pegida has not yet given an offi cial es- need be” should threaten to (AfD) party, is using language placards with the slogan “trai- gained momentum amid deep- movement. The placard reads ‘Love for all’. timate for how many it expects shoot migrants seeking to enter similar to that deployed by Hit- tor” – adopted by Pegida – when ening public unease over wheth- this year. the country. ler’s Nazis, Vice-Chancellor Sig- she visited an eastern German er Germany can cope with the arrested during a protest that was create tensions, division and vio- “As a church we say that we Border police “should be able mar Gabriel said on Friday. town where anti-refugee pro- 1.1mn migrants who arrived in attended by more than a hundred lence” and would last as long as need a reduction in the number if need be to have recourse to Support for the AfD has tests had erupted into violence. the country during 2015. people despite being banned, lo- necessary. of refugees,” Cardinal Reinhard their fi rearms – as laid down jumped amid deepening public Gabriel said last Sunday that The alleged involvement of cal authorities said. In Prague, an estimated 2,200 Marx, chairman of the German by law”, said party chairwoman unease over Chancellor Angela Germany’s domestic intelligence migrants in assaults on women Around 150 protesters gath- people including both support- Bishops’ Conference, told the Frauke Petry. Merkel’s open-door policy for agency (BfV) should monitor in Cologne on New Year’s Eve has ered in central Calais carrying ers and opponents of Pegida held Passauer Neue Presse daily. This type of speech is “unac- refugees from Syria and else- the AfD after the party’s leader, also spurred Pegida, which says signs such as “This is our home”, a series of rival demonstrations Germany cannot “take in all ceptable”, said Marx. where after some 1.1mn migrants Frauke Petry, suggested that it is proof that German Chancel- waving the French fl ag and sing- around the Czech capital. came to Germany last year. German police be given powers lor Angela Merkel’s welcoming ing the French national anthem, Around 400 people protested “Those who accuse democrat- to use fi rearms against illegal mi- stance to refugees is fl awed. an AFP correspondent at the against Pegida in Prague and ically-elected politicians of trea- grants. “We must succeed in guarding scene reported. campaigned for solidarity with son, call them ‘parties of the sys- “There is a political force that and controlling Europe’s exter- Thousands of migrants fl ee- refugees seeking protection and tem’ and menace journalists as is trying to develop itself into nal borders as well as its inter- ing war and poverty in Africa and a better life in Europe. ‘lying press’ – they are very close the parliamentary arm of these nal borders once again,” Pegida the Middle East camp out in Cal- “We want to fi ght against the to the language of the enemies of racist arguments,” Gabriel said member Siegfried Daebritz told ais, hoping for a chance to make growing xenophobia in Czech democracy, the Nazis of the ’20s on Friday, with reference to an a crowd on the banks of the River the short trip across the English society,” a counter-demonstrator and ’30s,” Gabriel said. increased number of attacks on Elbe who chanted “Merkel must Channel to Britain. said. He was speaking in Berlin at foreigners in Germany. go!” Ahead of the protest, Interior Others carried signs reading an event to promote integration A poll on Wednesday showed Police in Dresden declined Minister Bernard Cazeneuve on “Hate solves no problems” and – the hot popular issue in Ger- support for the AfD up three to estimate the number of pro- Wednesday called on authorities “Refugees welcome”. many. points at 12%, cementing its po- testers. German media put the in Calais to prevent all demon- Police had to intervene in one Concern over the refugee in- sition as Germany’s third largest number at up to 8,000, well be- strations “regardless of the or- march when supporters of the fl ux has hurt support for Merkel party, behind Merkel’s conserva- low the 15,000 originally expect- ganisers”. migrants came under attack from and fuelled the AfD’s rise. tives and Gabriel’s Social Demo- ed by police. He said the ban particularly around 20 people who threw The AfD has grown in tandem crats, who govern in a coalition. Hundreds of counter-demon- covered “all these groups that bottles and stones. Supporters of the Pegida movement gather in Dresden. strators also marched through Teen contacts police after on-air assault Dresden under the motto “Soli- darity instead of exclusion”, Police seize A teenager has turned himself into police in Cologne after he assaulted holding up placards saying “No unsafe boats a Belgian journalist live on air while she was reporting on carnival place for Nazis”. celebrations in the western German city, according to a statement Far-right groups see Europe’s Turkish police seized almost released yesterday. migrant crisis as an opportunity 50 unsafe boats destined for Police said the high-school student appeared at a local station with his to broadcast their anti-immi- migrants wanting to cross the mother on Friday, where he told off icers that he had recognised himself grant message. Aegean Sea to Greece, in the in online footage of the incident. There were 208 rallies in Ger- latest crackdown on businesses The video shows a group of German-speaking men approach many in the last quarter of 2015, exploiting refugees in western Esmeralda Labye, a journalist for French-language broadcaster RTBF, up from 95 a year earlier, interior Turkey, reports said yesterday. one of whom apparently gyrates against her back. ministry data showed. Police simultaneously raided However, in a statement to police, the 17-year-old denied that his actions Protests also took place yes- three underground workshops were sexually motivated. terday in other cities, including in the port city of Izmir on Friday, Police are now investigating his version of events and are looking for Amsterdam, Prague and the Eng- seizing 49 boats that failed to the man in the video who allegedly groped the reporter. lish city of Birmingham, and not meet safety standards, the off icial The number of reported sexual assaults rose on the first night of just in Europe. Anatolia news agency said. Cologne’s traditional carnival celebrations to 22. The chain of protests began The boats were destroyed by the Among them are Labye’s case and charges against two young men for in Canberra in Australia, where police, it said, adding that the attempted rape, one of whom has since been released. 400 people marched towards the workshops now faced closure. Last year, police received nine complaints alleging sexual assault on the parliament building in the Aus- Turkey is home to at least 2.2mn first night of the annual events. tralian capital, shouting Islamo- refugees from Syria’s civil war. Security has been bolstered for this year’s five-day carnival phobic slogans such as “We love It has become a hub for migrants celebrations, after police inaction was largely blamed for a string of bacon”. seeking to move to Europe, robberies, sexual assaults and alleged rapes in Cologne on New Year’s In Calais, in northern France, many of whom pay thousands of Eve. more than a dozen people were Left: Police off icers arrest supporters of the Pegida movement during a demonstration in Calais. dollars for the crossing to Greece. Gulf Times 20 Sunday, February 7, 2016 INDIA

ELECTION ALLEGATION CONCERT INVESTIGATION PEOPLE ‘Unlucky’ month forces BJP Vice chancellor Ghulam Ali to perform Mystery blast kills one Had tough time finding to delay naming candidates held on rape charge in Lucknow today in Tamil Nadu college job, says Paytm founder

The ‘Paush’ month of the Hindu calendar is The vice chancellor of a private university in Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali will One person was killed and three were injured Vijay Shanker Sharma, the founder of mobile considered inauspicious for weddings - but Bengaluru has been arrested for allegedly perform at the Lucknow Mahotsav 2015-2016 in a mystery blast yesterday in the garden of an wallet brand Paytm, yesterday said he had for the Bharatiya Janata Party in Goa the raping a 33-year-old woman, police said in the Uttar Pradesh capital today. The event engineering college in Vellore district of Tamil a hard time finding a job after getting an unsuitability of the period also extends to yesterday. “We arrested Madhukar G Angur is organised every year to showcase Uttar Nadu, around 170km from Chennai, police said. engineering degree. But Sharma said he never announcing names of its election candidates. The on Friday night on a complaint by the victim’s Pradesh’s art and culture. The off icial Twitter “There seems to be an explosion in the garden. gave up. He said his parents tried to force Goa unit of the party has delayed announcing mother,” Deputy Commissioner of Police M B page of the Uttar Pradesh government shared Due to the impact, a driver employed by the him to get married. “I was facing a hard time its panel of candidates for the upcoming Boraingaiah said. Angur, 55, a divorcee, is the an image of the ghazal maestro, who is seen college and others were hit by flying stones. without job. I was not in position to explain the municipal elections in Panaji because it felt it vice-chancellor of Alliance University, set up in posing aboard an aircraft. Ghulam Ali, whose While the driver died, three others were injured,” situation to my family,” he said at an event in was inauspicious to do so during the month of 2010 at Anekal on the city’s southern outskirts. concerts in Mumbai and Pune were called off police said. He said the incident happened Gurgaon. Coming from a Hindi background, ‘Paush’, state BJP chief Vinay Tendulkar said “The victim is the man’s niece. The complaint after Shiv Sena threatened to disrupt his live inside the Bharathidasan Engineering College in he said he faced many challenges after taking yesterday. “The delay is because we are in the was filed by her mother, who is his sister,” performances last year, will also attend the Natrampalli in Vellore district. According to the admission in an English medium engineering Paush month... no other reason,” Tendulkar said, Boralingaiah said. According to the complaint, music launch of Ghar Wapsi on March 5 in Delhi. police, the explosion caused a 3ft-wide crater course in 1998. “I was nervous as I could not adding that after ‘Amavasya’ (new moon night) the victim and the accused have been in Ghulam Ali will be making his acting debut with in the garden. The police were combing the understand what was taught in the class. I tomorrow, which signals the end of the month, relationship for a some years as Angur had the Hindi feature film for which he has also college premises to ascertain the reason for the was always worried how I would pass my the party would formally announce its panel. promised to marry her but betrayed. composed and lent his voice to a patriotic song. blast, an off icial said. examinations.” Maharashtra CM to decide on temple imbroglio

IANS as they have been waiting for Ahmednagar, Maharashtra centuries for their right to wor- ship at the temple,” Desai told reporters later. he issue of whether to Zilla Parishad member from permit women to step the village Sambhaji Dahatonde Tonto the open sanctum said that all parties had conveyed sanctorum of the world-famous their respective stand and feel- Shani Shingnapur Temple will ings on the issue at the meeting. now be decided by Maharashtra “Our stand is already well Chief Minister Devendra Fad- known. We must go through navis, it was agreed yesterday. discussions. Such major issues A meeting convened by can’t be resolved in just one Ahmednagar Collector Anil Ka- meeting,” Dahatonde said. wade of various stakeholders, Patil said that Kawade will including the district police, the prepare a detailed report on the temple trust, the village com- deliberations held yesterday on mittee and a women’s organisa- the sensitive issue and forward it tion failed to resolve the issue. to the chief minister for his fi nal President Pranab Mukherjee reviews the fleet during International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam yesterday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chief of Naval Staff , However, they unanimously decision. Admiral R K Dhowan look on. decided to approach Fadnavis for The meeting was directed his fi nal verdict in the matter and by Fadnavis after around 1,500 agreed to abide by his ruling. activists of Bhumata Ranragini The meeting, held at the be- Brigade threatened to storm the hest of the chief minister, was temple on January 26, but were attended by district Police Su- prevented from going to the vil- perintendent Saurabh Tripathi, lage, nearly 100km away. Shri Shanaishwar Devasthan The unique open temple has Shani Shingnapur chairperson no walls or roof. A self-emerged Challenging times for Anita Shetye, Save Shanish- (svayambhu) 5ft-high black war Devasthan Action Com- stone stands on a platform and mittee chief Shambajiraje Patil is worshipped as Lord Shanidev. and Bhumata Ranragini Brigade The temple platform stands in president Trupti Desai. the centre of the small village, also Though both sides maintained known as Sonai and attracts mil- that the meeting was cordial and lions of tourists and devotees from navies, says president were satisfi ed by the talks, they across the country and abroad. refused to budge from their re- However, barring the tem- Mukherjee reviews naval nature of today’s political and join hands and work together uniforms, they doff ed their caps Past the columns of ships on spective stand on the issue of ple priests, none is permitted to fleet off Visakhapatnam economic environment, it is to secure our seas for the great- in unison in a grand salutation display were three Sindhugh- permitting women onto the climb the nine steps up to the coast our belief that the present-day er good of humanity and the resounding the sound of ‘Three osh, or kilo-class submarines - temple’s sanctum sanctorum. actual stone idol that represents maritime domain requires na- world,” the president said. Jais’, symbolising the spirit of INS Sindhuvir, Sindhukriti and They also said it was unani- the deity. Others must only off er IANS vies across the world to re-focus A fleet review is a ceremo- camaraderie and bonhomie Sundhuraj. mously decided to knock on Fad- prayers from below the platform, Visakhapatnam their eff orts to counter the ris- nial and stately inspection of across the seas. The foreign ships included navis’ doors for the fi nal decision said a temple trustee Prafull N ing tide of non-traditional mar- naval warships by the presi- The ships lined up by the United States’ USS Antietam, which they would all respect. Surpuriya. itime challenges in the brown, dent, who is the supreme com- Indian Navy for the review in- a guided missile corvette, HMS “Whatever the CM decides, Shani Shingnapur is globally avies of the world have a green and blue waters across all mander of the Indian armed cludes two aircraft carriers, INS Defender of UK, JS Matsuyuki we shall accept. He is a progres- known as the only village where unique role in promot- ocean,” the president said. forces. Vikramaditya and INS Viraat of Japan, IRIS Alvand of Iran, sive man… we are confi dent he houses do not have doors and Ning goodwill, nurtur- The IFR off Visakhapatnam Also on the presidential yacht which is set to retire soon. BNS Somudra Joy from Bangla- will come out with a decision locks, and the village remains ing peace and tranquillity of coast brought together “navies were Prime Minister Narendra Also participating are war- desh, Liuzhou (573) from China, favouring the women of the state theft-free. the oceans, President Pranab from across the globe here on Modi, Defence Minister Mano- ships INS Kolkata, INS Mysore, and HMAS Darwin from Aus- Mukherjee said yesterday fol- Indian shores, signifying the har Parrikar and the three serv- and other ships of the class, INS tralia. lowing an impressive Interna- common desire to use the seas ice chiefs. Ranvijay and INS Kadmat, the About 50 navies and 24 for- Cartoonist Sudhir Tailang dies tional Fleet Review. to promote peace, co-operation The presidential yacht set off latest ship to be inducted in the eign ships are participating in Speaking on board INS Sumi- and friendship,” Mukherjee after a 21-gun salute, with three Indian Navy. the IFR, the second to be held Well-known cartoonist Sudhir last assignment was with the tra, an off shore patrol vessel said. more boats, INS Sumedha, INS Ships of Indian Coast Guard by India and the largest military Tailang, who was suff ering from Asian Age. Late prime minister converted to serve as the presi- He said the presence of for- Saryu and INS Sunayna (all and Mercantile Marine were exercise hosted by the country a brain tumour, died yesterday, Indira Gandhi was the first prey dential yatch, Mukherjee said eign countries in such a large Saryu class patrol vessels) fol- also present. so far. his family said. He would have of Tailang’s pen. Thereafter, present-day maritime domain number had made the event lowing in the trail. The president also reviewed The last IFR was held in turned 56 on February 26. He there was hardly any known requires navies across the world spectacular, truly refl ecting The ships to be reviewed the Indian Naval Air Arm in a Mumbai in 2001, presided worked with almost all well- personality in political world to re-focus their eff orts to coun- the spirit of IFR that humanity stood in six columns with sail- display of spectacular fl y-past over by the late A P J Abdul known newspapers including or other sphere of life who ter the rising tide of non-tradi- was indeed united through the ors lined up in proud presenta- by several fi xed wing and rotary Kalam. Twenty-nine coun- the Hindustan Times, Times of could escape his brush. He was tional maritime challenges. oceans. tion of their naval traditions. aircraft comprising diff erent tries had participated in that India and Indian Express. His awarded the Padma Shri in 2004. “Considering the globalised “IFR 2016 has enabled us to Dressed in white ceremonial formations. event.

Kerala CPM leader resigns from post Communist Party of India Kochi smart city’s fi rst phase to open on Feb 20 (Marxist) leader Karayi Rajan, an accused in a murder case, has resigned as president of the By Ashraf Padana “All of them are multina- ft of offi ce space and support- Kannur District Self-Government Thiruvananthapuram tional companies already op- ing facilities such as café, food Council after opposition protests. erational in India. At least 5,500 court, recreational facilities, The Kerala High Court on professionals can work in one fi tness facilities, fi tness centre Tuesday rejected his request he SmartCity Kochi (SCK) shift now, and the number of and a business centre for IT, to enter Thalassery district. He will feature India’s tall- jobs can go up if the companies BPO and other knowledge com- and Karayi Chandrasekharan, Test building for software utilise the excess capacity and panies to be set up in the special the Thalassery municipal head, fi rms, offi cials said yesterday. introduce more shifts.” economic zone. are standing trial for the 2006 Mohamed al-Gergawi, cabi- Sands Infrabuild, promoted “(The inaugural) function murder of Mohamed Fazal, a net aff airs minister of the Unit- by the UAE-based non-resi- will be a spectacle unseen be- newspaper vendor who turned ed Arab Emirates and head of dent Indian (NRI) business- fore in the state,” Thomson said. “renegade” and joined the the Dubai Holding, the parent man Yusuff ali M A, is building “Ahmad bin Byat, vice-chair- National Democratic Front (NDF), company, will open the fi rst a 30-storey twin tower, the tall- man and MD of Dubai Holding, a Muslim group, in Thalassery. phase of SCK on February 20. est, while another NRI, Sunny Yusuff ali, Sunny Varkey and The opposition has since been Kerala Chief Minister Om- Varkey, is setting up the inter- Jaber Bin Hafez, vice-chairman baying for their blood. The men Chandy, Industry Minister national school under his GEMS of SmartCity Kochi, among decision to quit was taken at P K Kunhalikutty and opposi- brand which has a presence in 14 others, will attend the ceremo- a meeting of the CPM district tion leader V S Achuthanandan countries. ny.” committee in the presence of will also attend the inaugural Both will be completed in 30 Thomson said almost all of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the party’s ceremony of the state’s dream months, authorities said. The the pending issues pertain- Kerala chief. Fazal was killed project. An artist’s impression of SmartCity Kochi. twin tower coming up in 12.74 ing to the Phase 1 were solved when the party was in power in “The fi rst building of 650,000 acres will have a 1.8mn sq ft except a couple of land-en- Kerala, according to the Central sq ft is ready for opening. We breaking of seven information industries of Dubai’s Tecom 75% of the built-up space to 27 built-up space, with a two-level croachment issues, ranging Bureau of Investigation, following have made all arrangements for technology blocks adding an- Investments after SmartCity fi rms and (the remaining) one parking at the basement. from four to six cents, which a conspiracy after he joined the making it a memorable occa- other 4.7mn sq ft and an inter- Malta. It envisages 8.8mn sq ft fl oor is reserved for a major The second phase will also are in court. A direct, broad, NDF. The federal agency took sion,” Kerala Chief Secretary national school with a capacity when completed, and 90,000 company. They will be opera- bring in an investment of Rs- road will be built to SmartC- over the investigation from the Jiji Thomson said after a review of 3,400 students.” software professionals will tional in three months,” Smart- 19bn. ity from Seaport-Airport Road local police following a court meeting in Kochi. SCK is the second off shore work there. City managing director Baju Another co-developer, MATT considerably reducing distance order and arrested eight CPM “It will also see the ground- hub of the knowledge-based “So far we have leased out George said. Projects, will build 300,000 sq to the city centre. men, including the two leaders. Gulf Times Sunday, February 7, 2016 21 INDIA Delhi civic Old and the beautiful workers vow to continue their strike

IANS and brief the judiciary of the “Delhi should get at least New Delhi whole issue. Rs2,000 crore as basic and per- United Front of MCD Em- formance grants for local bodies ployees president Rajesh Mishra similar to that of neighbour- strike by municipal work- said a section of doctors and ing states. This will facilitate in ers continued for the 11th engineers called off their strike tiding over the fi nancial crisis Aday yesterday as em- but it will not aff ect their ongo- in the East and North municipal An elderly visitor stands next to a 1933 Jaguar SS coupe at the sixth 21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally in New Delhi ployees of Delhi’s civic bodies ing protest. “The strike is on,” he corporations,” said Sisodia, who yesterday. The two-day event ends today. burnt effi gies of Prime Minister claimed. is also Delhi’s fi nance minister. Narendra Modi and Chief Min- “We will not call off our strike He presented recommenda- ister Arvind Kejriwal over non- till our demands of reaching a tions of the city government for payment of salaries. permanent solution to the crisis the union budget at a pre-budget The protesters, in north Del- and merger of municipal cor- consultation with Finance Min- hi’s Burari area, said the city and porations are considered,” he ister Arun Jaitley. central governments were not added. Highlighting the peculiar Taxes keep oil prices high in India taking their demands seriously. Employees of Delhi’s civic problems faced by the capital, Hundreds of employees of bodies have been protesting over Sisodia said the city government the municipal corporations the non-payment of salaries for in active collaboration with citi- IANS The answer: As global crude nies (OMCs), such as Indian prices have come down only staged a noisy demonstration the past few months, and direct- zens conducted the odd-even New Delhi prices reach an 11-year low, the Oil Corp Ltd, Hindustan Pe- by 15%. and dumped garbage at various ing their ire at both the Delhi and vehicle restriction scheme for central and state governments troleum Corp Ltd and Reli- The value-added taxes im- places, including the camp offi ce central governments for the last the fi rst time in the country in an steadily increase excise duties ance Industries Ltd, add their posed by states have more or of Deputy Chief Minister Manish 11 days. eff ort to control air pollution. ecord production in the and value-added tax, shoring margins, the central gov- less remained the same, but ex- Sisodia in Khichripur and Shyam Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on He said that to augment pub- US, weakened demand up their revenues and keeping ernment adds excise, state cise duties - both basic and ad- Lal College in Burari. Friday announced a loan of Rs3bn lic transport in Delhi, a special Rfrom the Eurozone and fuel prices high for retail con- governments add their own ditional - imposed by the cen- The protesters staged a march to two municipal corporations for package of Rs40bn from the emerging economies like China sumers. (value-added) taxes, and the tral government have doubled and also burnt an effi gy of Trans- payment of salaries, but the strik- central government was re- and Brazil, and Iran’s entry into Although India imports more dealers (petrol stations) get between 2014 and 2016. port Minister Gopal Rai near his ing workers refused to heed his quired to purchase 5,000 ad- the international market have than 80% of its fuel require- their commission. The direct eff ect of oil prices offi ce at Babarpur in east Delhi. appeal to return to work. ditional buses, which will eff ectively slashed the price of ments, which means declining The total of these is the retail on cost of transportation of “We will continue to dump Earlier this week, the Kejri- encourage citizens to shift to crude oil for India, from $106 global prices should, theoreti- price of the fuel you pay. goods and thus consumer infl a- garbage on the streets of Delhi wal government had announced public transport. per barrel in July 2014 to $26 in cally, have seen sharp fall in re- The excise duty on petrol and tion has been demonstrated by till our demands are met,” Sanjay Rs5.5bn to the North and East Sisodia said Delhi was being January 2016 - a 75% drop over tail petrol and diesel prices, diesel has been hiked fi ve times research from Integrated Re- Gehlot, president of the Maz- Delhi Municipal Corporations deprived of resources required 15 months. Indian consumers of petrol and over the last three months. search and Action for Develop- door Vikas Sanyukta Morcha, for paying salaries. for investment. So, why are you not seeing diesel now pay about double The price at which OMCs ment. said. Meanwhile, Sisodia demand- “Land is a valuable resource, evidence of this price-cut at the global rate. sell petrol to dealers has been Lower fuel prices can keep Gahlot said workers will visit ed at least Rs20bn as grant for which we don’t have. We don’t your local petrol and diesel sta- Indian prices stay high be- halved in two years. Over the infl ation in check, according to the Delhi High Court tomorrow the civic bodies. control land use,” he said. tion? cause oil marketing compa- same period, retail petrol a report in Business Standard. India, review ties during Sushma visit

IANS Both sides took stock of the prepa- as a promising area for further co- Colombo rations underway to begin negotia- operation. India thanked Sri Lanka tions on the economic and technology for having endorsed Prime Minister co-operation agreement, according to Narendra Modi-initiated Interna- ndia and Sri Lanka reviewed the the statement. tional Solar Alliance. entire gamut of bilateral issues, “India will be holding a workshop An Indian project for the construc- Iincluding defence and economic in early March in Colombo on non- tion and repair of 50,000 houses was co-operation and the contentious tariff barriers (NTB) and phytosani- reviewed with the joint commission fi shermen’s issue, and signed two tary barriers (PTB), regulations and expressing satisfaction over the com- memorandums of understanding procedures,” it stated. pletion of 44,000 dwellings. (MoUs) during External Aff airs Min- The two sides discussed ways In the tourism sector, the two sides ister Sushma Swaraj’s two-day visit for further collaboration in various discussed collaboration on establish- to the island nation that ended yes- projects that have been under discus- ing the Ramayana Trail in Sri Lanka terday. sion, including the upgrade of Palali and the Buddhist Circuit in South Swaraj, who led an inter-minis- airport, infrastructure development Asia. terial delegation and co-chaired the at Kankesanturai port, Sampur power Two MoUs were signed following ninth session of the India-Sri Lanka plant and a special economic zone in the meeting - one on construction of Joint Commission with her Sri Lankan Trincomalee. a surgical unit and supply of medi- counterpart Mangala Samaraweera on Defence being a key area, the joint cal equipment at Batticaloa Teaching Friday, also held a series of meetings commission encouraged further in- Hospital and another on renovation of with other leaders, including Presi- tensifi cation of co-operation through 27 school buildings in the island na- dent Maithripala Sirisena, and del- the several defence-related mecha- tion’s Northern Province. egations of political parties. nisms already in place. Yesterday, Swaraj inaugurated a “The joint commission acknowl- They also agreed on the need to “Rise of Digital India” exhibition, be- edged the depth, intensity and work together in the area of counter- ing held as part of the ongoing a fes- uniqueness of the multifaceted India- terrorism. tival of India in Sri Lanka, “Sangam”. Sri Lanka relations encompassing all Both sides agreed to enhance co- She started the day by fi rst call- spheres and founded upon civilisa- operation in the aviation sector and ing on President Sirisena whom she tional and close people-to-people called for early signing of the revised briefed on Friday’s joint commission linkages,” a statement issued by the air services agreement that has been meeting. Indian high commission here yester- pending since September 2013. She later met former Sri Lankan day said. Renewable energy was identifi ed president Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Bus accident toll rises to 42

The toll in Friday’s bus accident in Gujarat rose to 42, as five more bodies were pulled out from the wreckage yesterday. Chief Minister Anandiben Patel paid a visit to the injured people in hospitals and families of the dead and off ered help from the state government. The government has declared a compensation of Rs400,000 each to the relatives of those killed. The bus from Navsari to Ukai, carrying more than 60 passengers, fell into the Purna river some 40ft below, after breaking the sidewalls of a bridge on the Navsari-Bardoli highway on Friday evening. The driver and conductor of the bus were among those killed. Many schools and colleges in Navsari town remained Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel speaks to a doctor as she visits a woman in a closed for the day after paying hospital who was injured after a Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) bus condolences to the students fell off from a river bridge in South Gujarat’s Navsari district, in Ahmedabad yesterday. killed in the accident. Gulf Times 22 Sunday, February 7, 2016 LATIN AMERICA First of Zika deaths in Colombia

AFP mosquitoes that carry the virus. Bogota President Juan Orlando Hernandez has allo- cated an initial tranche of $10mn in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus. he mosquito-borne Zika virus sweep- Health offi cials in Brazil and the US mean- ing through Latin America has claimed while warned that sex or even kissing could Tthree lives in Colombia, as the UN urged potentially spread the typically mosquito- increased access to abortion because of fears borne disease. of severe birth defects. Brazil’s top research centre, the Fiocruz in- In the fi rst direct statements from govern- stitute in Rio de Janeiro, said Zika had been ment health offi cials blaming Zika for causing detected in urine and saliva. deaths, Colombia’s National Health Institute The scientists were careful to clarify that (INS) said on Friday that the patients died af- there is no proof the virus can be transmitted ter contracting the virus and developing a rare through those fl uids, but said people should neurological disorder called Guillain-Barre take precautions, especially expecting mothers. syndrome. “Avoid sharing glasses, silverware, contact Cases of the syndrome - in which the im- with someone who has symptoms of a possi- mune system attacks the nervous system, ble infection. Don’t kiss, obviously,” said the causing weakness and sometimes paralysis institute’s director Paulo Gadelha. - have increased in tandem with the Zika out- The US Centres for Disease Control (CDC) break, fuelling suspicions that it is a complica- for their part urged people to use condoms or Carnival King Momo, Wilson Dias da Costa Neto receives the keys to the city from Rio mayor Eduardo Paes during the off icial launching ceremoney tion of the otherwise mild tropical fever, which abstain from having sex if they live in or have for the 2016 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. is also blamed for causing brain damage in ba- travelled to Zika-infected areas. bies born to infected mothers. Earlier last week, US health offi cials con- “Other cases (of deaths linked to Zika) are fi rmed the fi rst case of sexually transmitted going to emerge,” said epidemiologist Martha Zika - a person who had travelled to Venezuela Lucia Ospina, director of the INS. and infected a sexual partner in Texas upon re- “The world is realising that Zika can be turn. deadly. The mortality rate is not very high, but The World Health Organization, which has Rio Carnival defi es virus fears it can be deadly.” Most Guillain-Barre patients declared the rise in Zika-linked birth defects recover, but the syndrome sometimes causes an international emergency, warns that Zika AFP Carnival celebrations were kicked are mounting fears that the mega- has dried up and that private spon- paralysis or even death. could infect up to 4mn people in the Americas Rio de Janeiro off under intermittent summer rain, event will be disrupted. sors are also running scared, while Citing the rise in babies born with micro- and spread worldwide. with a tribute to Carlinhos de Jesus, Ahead of Rio’s Carnival, city au- the plunging value in the national cephaly, or abnormally small heads and brains, The WHO has advised countries against one of Brazil’s most famous salon thorities announced a program of currency means importing mostly the UN human rights offi ce urged countries hit accepting blood donations from people who io’s Carnival - a fi ve day fes- dancers. fumigation and eradication of po- Chinese fabrics for costumes has by Zika to give women access to contraception have travelled to aff ected regions. tival of dancing, bared fl esh This year’s Carnival across Brazil tential mosquito breeding sites that driven up prices. and abortion. The new warnings on intimate contact Rand wild costumes – is un- starts under the cloud of the mos- will intensify in the run-up to the “The situation has been diffi cult Women’s reproductive rights are a touchy highlight how little is known about Zika, a vi- derway in the face of warnings that quito-transmitted Zika virus, which Olympics. for four or fi ve years, but this year subject in largely Catholic Latin America, but rus that was fi rst identifi ed in Africa in 1947 the Zika virus might make even normally provokes few ill eff ects, but Authorities are also pointing was worse because everyone is in the UN human rights offi ce said countries but had been considered relatively mild until kissing dangerous. is blamed for an outbreak of serious out that in six months, it will be crisis and prices are rising,” the urging women to avoid pregnancy - a list that the current eruption of apparent complica- Mayor Eduardo Paes handed a big birth defects in babies born to moth- the southern hemisphere winter, administrator of the Uniao da Ilha comprises Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ja- tions. golden key to the city to the Carni- ers infected while pregnant. meaning many fewer mosquitoes. samba school, Marcio Andre Mehry maica and Panama - had to give them ways to Both the US CDC and Fiocruz in Brazil said val’s ceremonial King Momo, who The scare gripping Latin Amer- Cancelling the Games, said de Souza, said. control their fertility. more research was needed on person-to-per- promised a spectacular show. ica took a new twist with the an- Brazilian Sports Minister George A saleswoman at Souad Modas, a “How can they ask these women not to be- son transmission. “With great happiness, broth- nouncement that the virus - so far Hilton on Thursday, “is not under store selling the kinds of costumes come pregnant, but not off er... the possibil- Brazil has been the country hardest hit by erly love and peace, I declare the believed to be transmitted almost discussion.” used in informal street parties, also ity to stop their pregnancies?” spokeswoman the outbreak, with an estimated 1.5mn cases. best Carnival on Earth open - our exclusively through mosquito bites The Carnival peaks today and to- said times were tough. Cecile Pouilly told reporters. Colombia is next on the list, with more than Carnival in the Marvelous City,” the - can be detected in saliva and urine. morrow nights with the competing “The place is almost empty. In Many Latin American countries outlaw 20,000 cases. dancing king, who is elected ahead The growing alarm over Zika - samba parades at the Sambadrome, previous years it was crammed with abortion or allow it only if the mother’s life is Zika often goes unnoticed, and causes a of the festivities, said on Friday. and uncertainty over how the virus famous for their choreography and people. I was able to sell 60,000 in danger. In El Salvador, one of those warning relatively mild fever and rash in those who do The annual mega-bash famed can be transmitted - comes at the extraordinary costumes. reais ($15,420) worth of costumes against pregnancy, abortion is punishable by develop symptoms. for lavish - and skimpily dressed - worst time for Rio, where some 1mn But like the rest of Brazil, Rio de in a week, while now I’ll be lucky to up to 40 years in prison. But Brazil sounded the alarm after record- samba parades and all-night street tourists are expected to join millions Janeiro is struggling with deep re- sell 15,000 reais worth,” she said. Honduras, which earlier this week declared ing a surge in babies born with microcephaly. dancing is expected to attract as of locals at parties and parades. cession and the economic hurt has Another costume seller, Teresa a state of emergency after tallying some 3,700 It has registered 404 cases since October and many as 5mn people. In August, Rio will become extended to the Carnival industry. Curi, 61, said she was still looking cases of Zika since mid-December, said it is 3,670 suspected cases, up from 147 in all of In Sao Paulo, Brazil’s most popu- South America’s fi rst city to host Big ensembles competing in the forward to the weekend. “Carnival planning a full day dedicated to eradicating the 2014. lous city and its economic capital, the Summer Olympics, and there Sambadrome say that city funding is for forgetting all this,” she said.

Argentina off ers Haiti mob stones ex-fi ghter to death $6.5bn cash deal Reuters Port-au-Prince to end debt battle aiti slipped deeper into unrest on Friday as former fi ghters roamed Reuters Hthe capital and a mob of protesters New York/Buenos Aires stoned one of them to death, two days before President Michel Martelly is due to leave of- fi ce with no elected successor. rgentina off ered a $6.5bn cash payment on Fri- Reuters witnesses said a crowd attacked day to creditors suing the country over defaulted an unarmed man wearing green military- Abonds, seeking to end a festering 14-year legal style clothes, who was among the retired battle that transformed it into a fi nancial markets pa- paramilitary fi ghters in the streets on Friday. riah. Two out of six leading bondholders have already Such fi ghters toppled former president Jean- accepted the off er, the US court-appointed mediator Bertrand Aristide in a 2004 coup. said, hailing the proposal by Argentina’s new, business- “We are ready to fi ght the former military, friendly government as an “historic breakthrough”. they killed us in 2004, we will never let that The off er, if accepted by all litigating bondholders, happen again,” said opposition protester would represent a roughly 25% discount or so-called Wesner Morin, 37, from the Bel Aire slum. haircut for creditors who fi led claims of about $9bn. The Martelly is due to leave offi ce today but turning point in the legal fi ght stemming from Argen- squabbling politicians have failed to organize tina’s record default on around $100bn in 2002 comes an interim government to replace him, after less than two months after President Mauricio Macri the runoff election to choose his replacement took offi ce and expressed his commitment to a deal. was scrapped last month amid violence and If Macri manages to clinch an agreement, the cash- fraud allegations. strapped country will be able to emerge from default and The crisis has reopened old divisions in return to global capital markets to fi nance badly-needed Haitian society, with mainly poor opposi- infrastructure such as new roads and railways. tion protesters calling for the leftist Aristide The Argentine fi nance ministry said the off er entailed to be brought back as an interim leader and “a payment of approximately $6.5bn if all the bond- the former fi ghters appearing in support of holders accept it”. Martelly’s camp. It followed fi ve days of intense talks in New York led The Caribbean nation, the poorest in the by Finance Secretary Luis Caputo. The former Deutsche Western Hemisphere, has been trying since Bank bond trader brought a market mindset to discus- the 1980s to build a stable democracy in the sions after Argentina’s previous negotiator, former wake of the decades-long rule of the Duvalier economy minister Axel Kicillof, an academic, frequent- family. ly clashed with bondholders. Aristide disbanded the army in 1995 in an “The agreement was awesome,” Caputo told report- attempt to end military dominance over Hai- ers after emerging from the mediator’s offi ce in New tian politics stretching back to independence York. “We have had a good reception of the proposals two centuries earlier. Martelly last year ener- and I feel optimistic.” gized former fi ghters by taking steps to revive Montreux Equity Partners and Dart Management the army. were the two funds that accepted the proposal, accord- The groups of ageing former gunmen ing to the ministry. drove through the capital in convoys on Fri- The two lead creditors Elliott Management and Au- day, some waving weapons and fi ring into the Opposition protesters argue with a National Police off icer during a demonstration in Port-au-Prince on Friday. relius Capital Management, both declined to comment air. on the off er. Until police took away his body, the dead that killed an estimated 200,000 people. Jude Celestin, threatened to boycott the terim government. Martelly said in a state- The off er contained two separate proposals. veteran lay on the street in a pool of blood, Haiti held the fi rst round of the presiden- process and sporadic violent protests swept ment on Friday that he would soon choose The fi rst off ers holders of defaulted debt who never his boots removed by protesters. A small card tial election in October, but opposition can- the country. one of the options. joined the US lawsuit full payment on the principle bearing the image of ruling-party candidate didates have since claimed it was tainted by With no solution to the impasse, protests The US, which spent some $33mn on value of their bonds plus 50%, mirroring a deal reached Jovenel Moise was stuck to the back of his major fraud. An independent commission have intensifi ed in recent days in the lead up the election, fears an interim government with 50,000 Italian creditors last week. crushed head. that investigated the election cited serious to Martelly’s expected departure. might linger for years, leaving Haiti with- The second proposal applies to all creditors who have The latest political crisis has distracted irregularities. Politicians are discussing a range of op- out a democratically elected president, a sued Argentina through the US law courts. It off ers a 30% from ongoing efforts to rebuild a nation A runoff vote scheduled for January was tions, including appointing a supreme court situation the country suffered after Aris- reduction on a creditor’s total claim. If the investor agrees shattered by an earthquake six years ago scrapped when the opposition candidate, judge or a new prime minister to run an in- tide was toppled. within two weeks, the haircut will be trimmed to 27.5%. Gulf Times Sunday, February 7, 2016 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

Police arrest six over child wedding Police have arrested six people accused of arranging the marriage of a seven-year-old boy Talks between Kabul and and six-year-old girl in eastern Pakistan, off icials said yesterday, AFP reports from Multan. The fathers of both children, the cleric performing the ceremony, and three witnesses were charged under the Child Marriage Restraint Act yesterday after Taliban likely this month being arrested in Punjab province on Friday, senior police off icial The Quadrilateral process should be a political Saifullah Khan said. Co-ordination Group in a settlement that results in the They face six months meeting in Pakistan calls on cessation of violence, and du- imprisonment and/or a fine of all Taliban groups to join the rable peace in Afghanistan,” the 50,000 rupees ($500). peace talks statement said. Local police chief Mehr Riaz “Towards this end, the QCG Hussain said the accused have AFP (Quadrilateral Co-ordination denied that the wedding took Islamabad Group) countries agreed to place, but police have it on video. continue joint eff orts for set- Pakistani lawmakers last month ting a date for direct peace talks withdrew a proposal to impose irect peace talks be- between the representatives harsher penalties on those who tween Kabul and the of the Afghan government and arrange child marriages after it DTaliban are “expected Taliban groups expected to take was scuttled by a religious body to take place” by the end of the place by the end of February which branded it “blasphemous” month, representatives from 2016.” and against Islam. four countries involved in pre- The statement added the The proposal, which would cursor roadmap negotiations group would hold its next meet- also have raised the legal age said in a joint statement issued ing in Kabul on February 23. of marriages for females from yesterday in Islamabad. The role of Pakistan, which 16 to 18, called for “rigorous” The statement by delegates backed the Islamist group dur- punishment of up to two years from Afghanistan, Pakistan, ing their 1996 - 2001 rule and in prison for those who organise China and the United States is accused of continuing to pro- child marriages, still common in came after a third round of talks vide shelter to its leaders in ex- some parts of Pakistan. between the four powers and ile, is seen as key in persuading The original law stipulates the age is the strongest indication yet the Taliban to return to talks. of marriage to be 16 for women the Taliban are willing to re- The fi rst round of the road- In this handout photograph released by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) yesterday, Sartaj Aziz, centre, chairs the third round of and 18 for men but Pakistani turn to negotiations six months map talks was held in Islamabad four-way peace talks with Afghanistan, US and Chinese delegates in Islamabad. religious scholars at the Council after an earlier round of direct last month, where delegates be- of Islamic Ideology, believe it is dialogue fell away. gan laying the groundwork for Taliban representatives have ally abates, underscoring a fi rst round of talks directly with groups to join the peace talks”. not in accordance with Islamic It comes as the insurgents direct dialogue between Kabul been notably absent during the worsening security situation. the Taliban in July last year. The dominant faction of the teachings. wage an unprecedented winter and the Islamist group. process and analysts caution Observers say the intensi- But the negotiations stalled Taliban is led by Mullah Akhtar They say there is no specific age campaign of violence across A second round was held that any substantive talks are fying insurgency highlights a when the insurgents belatedly Mansour, who offi cially suc- limit for marriage in Sharia as an Afghanistan, more than 14 in Kabul on January 18 which still a long way off . push by the militants to seize confi rmed the death of longtime ceeding founder Mullah Omar. individual can marry when he or years after they were driven out urged the Taliban groups to en- The Taliban have stepped more territory in an attempt to leader Mullah Omar, sparking A major breakaway faction she reaches puberty and puberty of power by US-led Nato forces. ter into early talks with the Af- up attacks on government and wrangle greater concessions infi ghting within the group. meanwhile is led by Muhammad cannot be defined by age. Rights “The Group stressed that the ghan government without pre- foreign targets in Afghanistan during talks. The statement added the four Rasul, whose faction is seen by activists strongly criticised the outcome of the reconciliation conditions. this winter, when fi ghting usu- Pakistan hosted a milestone countries “called on all Taliban some analysts as closer to Iran. rejection of bill. Top offi cials Afghan minister close to quitting

Reuters gence service just as the Taliban Hashemi said: “Bringing reform of peace talks with the Taliban. ist insurgents now control more Kabul has stepped up its insurgency. to government entitities, includ- Speculation over the future territory than at any time since It also highlights the deep ing the ministry of the interior, of Olomi had been swirling for 2001, when the Taliban was to be probed fractures in the national unity to increase effi ciency has been a months after he survived moves by driven from power by US-led fghan Interior Minister government which gave Ghani government priority.” a group of members of parliament forces in the wake of the Sep- Noor-ul-Haq Olomi has and Chief Executive Abdullah An interior ministry spokes- in November to launch a no confi - tember 11 attacks in New York. Aoff ered his resignation Abdullah, the two rival candi- man said he could not confi rm dence motion against him over the At the same time, the gov- to President Ashraf Ghani after dates in the disputed election of the information. deteriorating security outlook. ernment has been hobbled by over airline mounting criticism of the wors- 2014, a share in power. One senior offi cial said Ghani The Taliban have stepped up political infi ghting, which has ening security situation over Three separate government was meeting Chief Executive their insurgency since the with- prevented the appointment of a recent months, people familiar and diplomatic sources, who Abdullah, who nominated Olomi drawal of most foreign troops in permanent defence minister for with the matter said. spoke on condition of anonym- to the ministry and who would 2014, briefl y seizing the north- more than a year. The resignation off er, which ity, said Olomi had off ered his be consulted before any replace- ern city of Kunduz last year and Disagreements over the ap- staff deaths the sources said had not yet been resignation but that Ghani was ment can be appointed. mounting a series of deadly sui- proach to dealing with the in- accepted, deals a further blow to still considering a replacement The move comes as offi cials cide attacks in the capital Kabul. surgency also prompted the AFP ting to kill the protesters, al- Ghani’s struggling government, before accepting it. from Afghanistan, Pakistan, According to the Special In- powerful head of the National Islamabad though not of opening fi re which is without a permanent Asked whether Olomi had of- the United States and China are spector General for Afghanistan Directorate for Security, Rahma- themselves. defence minister and which re- fered his resignation, Ghani’s meeting in Islamabad to try to Reconstruction, a US Congres- tullah Nabil to walk out of the job The authorities claim the cently lost the head of its intelli- deputy spokesman Sayed Zafar lay the ground for a resumption sional oversight body, the Islam- in December. akistani police will in- victims were shot by gunmen vestigate fi ve offi cials, in the crowd. Pincluding a former ad- The strike continues despite viser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s warning the demon- Sharif, for murder after two stration was illegal and those airline employees were shot taking part could face up to Suicide bomber kills dead during a protest against a year in prison under a law privatisation. that restricts union activity in The Pakistan Internation- state-administered sectors. nine, injures dozens al Airline (PIA) employees All of PIA’s foreign and were killed and several more domestic fl ights remained wounded at Karachi’s inter- grounded yesterday with Reuters planned route of a $46bn China- national airport on Tuesday thousands of passengers, in- Quetta Pakistan economic corridor. when clashes broke out be- cluding Pakistani domes- “The suicide bomber was rid- tween security forces and tic workers trying to fl y to ing a bicycle close to a Frontier staff , though authorities the Middle East, stranded at t least nine people were Corps vehicle,” said senior police denied opening fi re. airports. killed and 35 wounded offi cial Imtiaz Shah, referring to Police yesterday registered a In December, Islamabad an- Awhen a suicide bomber the branch of Pakistan’s paramil- case against one federal cabinet nounced it would complete the blew himself up near a military itary forces targeted in the attack. minister, a senator, a former partial sale of the carrier by convoy in Pakistan’s western At least three Frontier Corps adviser to Sharif and two air- July, following years of crush- city of Quetta yesterday, police personnel were killed and 15 line offi cials on the complaint ing losses and mismanage- and hospital offi cials said. were injured in the attack that of PIA employees’ joint action ment that have battered the Pakistani Taliban spokesman occurred in the city centre in the committee, accusing them of airline’s reputation. Muhammad Khurasani said that late afternoon, Frontier Corps murder and torture, senior po- PIA suff ers from frequent the group, also known as the spokesman Khan Wasey said. lice offi cial Rao Anwar said. cancellations and delays and TTP, was responsible for the at- A 12-year-old girl was also “An investigation team is has been involved in numerous tack in the capital of the prov- among the dead, said Ajab Khan, being constituted to take fur- controversies over the years, ince of Baluchistan. a doctor at the city’s Civil Hos- ther action,” he added. including the jailing of a drunk The bombing was the latest pital, where the casualties were Paramilitary soldiers stand beside a destroyed security truck at the site of a bomb explosion that targeted The fi ve are accused of plot- pilot in Britain in 2013. in a region which is home to the taken. a security convoy in Quetta yesterday.

Two polio cases found Charter amendments required for poll reforms Pakistan and Afghanistan have reported in Pakistan in 2015. reported the first cases of polio The off icial said the aff ected Internews direct elections for the Sen- political parties, may spoil the knowledge of Islamic teaching these Islamic provisions to court for the year 2016, a media child in Afghanistan was 60 Islamabad ate and women’s seats in the whole electoral reforms package. and practices obligatory duties decisions. report said yesterday. months old. He had received National Assembly, increasing The Pakistan People’s Party prescribed by Islam as well as The PML-N was reportedly In Pakistan, the case was only two polio vaccines. Balochistan’s representation in (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e- abstains from major sins; (f) he ready for such a compromise confirmed by Polio Virology “The child belongs to Kandahar. he electoral reforms the Upper House, among oth- Insaf (PTI) had sought deletion of is sagacious, righteous and non- but the JI and JUI-F representa- Laboratory at the National According to reports at least package as prepared by ers, have been left by the sub- the Islam-related qualifi cations profl igate, honest and ameen, tives said that they would never Institute of Health, Dawn online 80,000 children in Afghanistan Tthe sub-committee of committee for the main electoral for MPs, which were introduced there being no declaration to the agree on any compromise in any reported. were missed during last few the parliamentary body on the reforms committee to decide. during Zia’s tenure and endorsed contrary by a court of law.” Islamic provision of the Consti- An off icial of the ministry of campaigns,” he said. subject suggests over a dozen The sub-committee has pre- by the 18th Amendment. The PPP and the PTI wanted tution. National Health Services said Pakistan and Afghanistan are constitutional amendments to ferred preparation of consensus However, the PML-N, to revert to the original “Qualifi - Contrary to the public de- the sample collected from the only countries in the world overhaul the electoral system of recommendations to ensure that Jamaat-e-Islami and JUI-F were cations” for MPs as were framed mand that a mechanism be a 34-month-old in January which have been transferring Pakistan for free, fair and trans- the reforms package, involving not supportive of the deletion of by the authors of the Constitu- evolved for the implementation confirmed that the child had the polio virus to each other. parent elections in the country. both constitutional and legal these Islamic provisions. tion in 1973. of Islamic provisions in the elec- the onset of polio. Resident The main reason is that the two These changes in the consti- changes, gets through smoothly. During the deliberations of the It was said in the meeting that tion of members of parliament of Gadap town in Karachi, he countries share a 2,500km long tution pertain to either removing Contentious issues will be dis- sub-committee of the reforms these Islamic provisions were so that only upright, honest and had received two doses during border. certain anomalies or improving cussed in the main electoral re- committee, the PPP and PTI had added during General Zia’s era practicing Muslims could make routine immunisation and Children are vaccinated at the electoral system but do not form committee. joined hands to get deleted the thus should be deleted through a it to the National Assembly and seven during diff erent polio legal entry points of the border include contentious issues di- However, sources said that it is following Islamic provisions in constitutional amendment. Senate, the PPP and PTI de- campaigns. but since Pakistan is hosting viding diff erent political voices unlikely that any of such matters relation to the qualifi cations of The JI and JUI-F were vocal mand the total deletion of these “Malnutrition was the major 1.6mn Afghan refugees, a large present in parliament. would become part of the fi nal MPs as refl ected in Article 62: in their opposition to the dele- provisions whereas the sub- reason of the disease because number of people cross the Sources said that conten- package. Demand for deleting “62(1) (d) he is of good charac- tion of these articles following committee at one stage had also immunity level of the child was border illegally from diff erent tious issues like deleting or di- the Islamic provisions included ter and is not commonly known which an eff ort was made for a suggested a proposal for making very low,” the off icial said. routes and it is not possible to luting Islamic qualifi cations for in Article 62 is the real thorny as one who violates Islamic In- compromised solution i.e. link- these provisions redundant that A total of 54 cases of polio were vaccinate them at the border. MPs as included in Article 62, issue, which if pressed by some junction; (e) he has adequate ing the implementation of all was considered. Gulf Times 24 Sunday, February 7, 2016

Army offi cial injured Poe ahead in race for in clash with rebels in

By Julmunir I Jannaral & responded with artillery fi res,” Moh Saaduddin Budiongan said. The attack- presidency : survey ers reportedly used .50 caliber sniper rifl es. The Army had to The survey conducted by was in second place with 23%. Poe was abandoned as a baby retaliate with several rounds Pulse Asia Research Inc in the Ruling party candidate Mar on the steps of a church in the n Army captain was of mortars after armed men – final week of January gave Roxas and Rodrigo Duterte, central city of Iloilo, and was wounded as the mili- reportedly from nearby Shariff Senator Grace Poe 30% of mayor of the southern city of adopted by a late Filipino ac- Atary clashed on Friday Aguak – reinforced the BIFF. voters’ preferences Davao, were tied at 20%. tion movie star. The identities with fi ghters of the Bangsam- Army bomb experts later Poe had dropped to second of her biological parents are not oro Islamic Freedom Fighters safely defused the bomb, Bu- DPA place in the December survey known. (BIFF) in Datu Salibo town in diongan said. Manila following her disqualification She renounced her citizen- Maguindanao. The spokesperson of the by the Elections Commission ship in 2001 to reside in the US Col. Felicisimo Budiongan, sixth Infantry Division Cap- due to questions over her citi- with her husband, but later re- commanding offi cer of the Ar- tain Jo-Ann Petinglay blamed one-term senator fac- zenship. turned and became a dual citi- my’s First Mechanised Brigade rebel leaders Ustadz Roman, ing disqualification re- The 47-year-old senator has zen. based in Datu Saudi Ampatuan Bungos, Abusaiden and Kagui A gained her lead in the appealed the disqualification The official campaign period town, said the fi refi ght started Tatang for the attack. Philippines’ presidential race with the Supreme Court, which for candidates is schedule to past 4pm in Barangay Butalo. BIFF spokesman Abu Misri ahead of the start of the offi- has yet to issue a decision. start on Tuesday. An Army unit had been dis- Mama said they fi red at gov- cial campaign period, a survey She called the latest survey More than 18,000 positions patched to the area to defuse ernment forces because they showed yesterday. “both overwhelming and hum- are up for grabs in the May 9 an improvised explosive device came too close to their location. The survey conducted by bling.” general elections, including planted in a bridge under con- The BIFF, which earlier Pulse Asia Research Inc in the “It echoes the voice of the president, vice president, sen- struction. pledged allegiance to the Is- final week of January gave Sen- people who trust and believe ators, congressional represent- “Our bomb experts were lamic State (IS), said the IED ator Grace Poe 30% of voters’ in my capacity to be a leader no atives, provincial governors, dismantling the explosive was meant to prevent the gov- preferences. matter what hurdles are thrown city and town mayors and vice when the bandits noticed us, ernment security forces from Grace Poe: regaining lead Vice President Jejomar Binay my way,” she said. mayors. then fi red at our troops and we entering their area. Pemberton’s lawyers Protest against high tuition fee seek bail in murder case

By Patrick Roxas be imposed in case the decision is affi rmed. Olongapo City Pemberton was initially charged with murder for the death of Laude on Oct 11, 2014 in a motel along Magsaysay Drive here. awyers representing US Marine Lance Cpl. He was convicted of homicide on Dec 1, 2015 Joseph Scott Pemberton asked the court after a 10-month trial and meted a jail term of re- Lhere to reverse its verdict in connection clusion perpetua, or a maximum of 20 years im- with the death of transgender Jeff rey Laude and prisonment. grant the application for bail. The defence, following Pemberton’s convic- tion, fi led an Omnibus Motion for Partial Recon- sideration saying, among others “the existence of circumstances tending to show that another per- son caused the death of Laude.” The prosecution, however, argued that there was no evidence of another killer and recom- mended that court should dismiss the motion. But Pemberton’s lawyers insisted “the pros- ecution failed to address the existence of cir- cumstances tending to show that another person caused the death of Laude.” It its reply sent on Feb 5 to Olongapo City Re- gional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 74 Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde, the defence cited pieces of evi- dence such as Laude clutching a piece of jewellery when found dead by law enforcers, though such jewellery does not belong to either Laude or Pem- berton; that Laude had P20,000 when he went Joseph Scott Pemberton to Celzone Lodge with Pemberton; and another DNA profi le found on Laude which the prosecu- The 47-page consolidated reply, a copy of tion failed to account, allegedly due to “insuffi - which was obtained by Manila Times, asked the cient amount of generic data” that should have court to appreciate the mitigating circumstances been considered. in determining the imposable penalty, fi x the bail, They also asked the court to clarify the pre- Youth groups led by the National Union of Students of the Philippines hold a protest rally, in front of the Commission on Higher reduce the amount of damage awarded to the cise penalty to be imposed if the verdict is not Education, which they blame for approval of high tuition in tertiary schools across the country. family of Laude, and clarify the precise penalty to reversed.

Govt begins Revenue bureau chief says Miss Universe must pay taxes eff orts to yfl Agencies home Iraq Manila nless a law is passed, the queen still has to pay her fi re victims Utaxes after all. Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach is still not DPA exempt from paying taxes in Manila the Philippines unless she gets the approval of both the House of Representatives and he Philippine government the Senate, according to Com- has dispatched a team to missioner Kim Henares of the Tidentify and repatriate Bureau of Internal Revenue 14 Filipinos killed in a hotel fi re (BIR), Philippine Daily Inquirer in northern Iraq, an offi cial said reported. yesterday. “If you want to exempt some- “We would like to extend our body, you have to pass a law and deepest sympathy to the families a law requires the vote of the of the victims and will do every- House and the Senate. And if thing we can to bring them home you read the Constitution, a as soon as possible,” said Elmer law exempting anyone requires Cato, charge d’aff aires of the three-fourths vote of both the Philippine embassy in Baghdad. House and the Senate,” Henares Cato is leading the team to said at a press conference. Erbil, the capital of the Kurdis- Last week, the House ap- tan region, where the fi re broke proved on committee level out Friday evening at the Capitol House Bill No. 6367, which ex- Hotel.He said the victims were empts the Filipino beauty queen mostly hotel employees. The from paying taxes. A similar bill cause of the fi re was still being is pending in the Senate. investigated. In any case, Wurtzbach would The Philippine government be paying only a small amount File photo shows Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach walking with former Philippine president Joseph Estrada, during her visit at the city hall of Manila. imposed a deployment ban to to the Philippines, as the bulk Iraq in 2004, but lifted the re- of her taxes will go to the US, Wurtzbach, an actress before her income here, because most Miss Universe victory, given me a question, I answer,” Hen- aff ect me because I don’t even striction on the Kurdistan region where she is currently earning becoming a beauty queen, ear- probably she will have an in- the BIR chief’s known record ares said. know what’s going on. Everyone in 2012 amid growing foreign her income, said Henares. lier said she never missed mak- come here. Then compute how of demanding prompt payment “Unfortunately, I have no of us, more so when you’re in labour demand and relatively “If there will be any tax pay- ing her tax payments. But she much she has to pay and deduct from taxpayers, including ce- control of what people think, government, we should recog- peaceful conditions. ment in the Philippines, it will said she could not be taxed for what she has already paid over- lebrities. what people feel. All I have con- nise that all our actions will not From around 4,000 Filipi- probably be just 1 or 2%, or not her $300,000 gem-encrusted seas,” Henares said. But it’s not as if Henares im- trol of is my own action. For as make everyone happy,” Henares nos working in Iraq before the even,” said the BIR head. crown as, technically, it does “You should have proof—pa- mediately goes after those with long as I’m doing what is right. told reporters. deployment ban, there are less Among Wurtzbach’s win- not belong to her. pers, documents—that show prize winnings that may be tax- You can never make everybody She said her action was based than 1,000 now employed in the nings are a salary as Miss Uni- Henares said the beauty you declared this and paid this able, as social media posts and happy,” she added. on what was correct and what country. verse during her yearlong reign, queen only needed to declare tax overseas in a certifi ed true memes portrayed her to be.“I’d Henares has not seen the was right. The Philippines is among the living allowance, a scholarship her tax payment in the US upon copy that was consularised,” like to clarify the reports. The posts herself but said, “Perhaps, “Otherwise, we will be in a world’s top labour exporters, at the New York Film Academy, fi ling her income tax return in she said. truth is, when someone wins (a I’m happy to contribute to the paralysis and that’s even worse. with an estimated 10mn skilled and a host of other sponsor- the Philippines. Jokes about Henares running prize), it’s not like I immediately conversation.” If I wait for everyone’s approval, and unskilled workers deployed ships for travel, personal care “She just has to declare her after Wurtzbach were rife on think about taxing him or her. “I don’t do social media. So as then there is nothing I will be abroad. and representation. income overseas along with social media after the latter’s By reputation, if the media ask far as I’m concerned, it does not able to accomplish,” she said. Gulf Times Sunday, February 7, 2016 25 SRI LANKA//NEPAL

8 killed UN rights chief in Colombo in Nepal accident

IANS for talks over war crimes Kathmandu

AFP Trincomalee as well as the Council adopted a reso- es of the war which ended in t least eight persons were Colombo capital Colombo. lution late last year call- May 2009. killed and six others in- In addition to meeting ing for credible inves- In contrast, his predeces- Ajured yesterday when a with President Maithri- tigations into wartime sor Mahinda Rajapakse had passenger bus carrying army he United Nations’ pala Sirisena, Zeid will meet atrocities committed by resisted calls for a probe personnel veered off a highway human rights chief with war victims as he pre- the government-backed after maintaining that not and fell into a ravine in central TZeid Ra’ad al-Hus- pares to make a report to the military as well as Tamil a single civilian had been Nepal. sein began his fi rst visit to UN Human Rights Council Tiger separatists during the killed by troops under his The accident took place Sri Lanka yesterday to gauge in March on the nation’s island’s 37-year civil war. command. at Pasang Lhamu highway in the island’s progress in in- progress in probing war Zeid went a step further A UN report in Septem- Madanpur in Nuwakot district vestigating atrocities com- crimes. calling for “hybrid courts” ber described horrifi c war- when the bus was on its way to mitted by both sides during its “I have been looking for- involving foreign judges, a time atrocities commit- Trishuli from Kathmandu. prolonged civil war. ward to coming and I am demand Colombo rejected. ted by both the Sri Lankan The microbus carrying army The UN High Commis- looking forward to meeting However, President military and the Tamil personnel undergoing train- sioner for Human Rights both the highest offi cials of Sirisena has agreed to a Tiger rebels whose leader- ing at the Trishuli Army Train- said he was hoping for “con- the state as well as repre- domestic investigation ship has since been wiped ing Centre, Maithali fell around structive discussions” dur- sentatives of all communi- into allegations that troops out. An estimated 100,000 500ft off the road, said deputy ing his four-day visit, which ties,” Zeid said soon after killed at least 40,000 ethnic people died in Sri Lanka’s UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein speaking to superintendent of police Siddhi will take him to the former landing in Colombo. Tamils while defeating the ethnic war between 1972 the media before leaving his hotel to meet Sri Lankan politicians and diplomats Bikram Shah. warzones of Jaff na and The UN Human Rights separatists in the fi nal stag- and 2009. in Colombo yesterday. The deceased are yet to be identifi ed and the injured have been rushed to capital Kath- mandu for further treatment. Poor road infrastructure and reckless driving are the leading Govt requests IMF causes of accidents in Nepal. According to the WHO, road accidents are the world’s eighth bailout to tackle leading cause of death. About 70% of the deaths from road accidents occur in developing budget defi cit countries. As per the Nepal’s traffi c po- lice data, on an average fi ve AFP Sri Lanka’s economy, said to seven people are killed in Colombo yesterday it had warned road accidents every day in the the authorities they should country. make a “stronger eff ort” ri Lanka has made a to immediately reduce the formal request for an budget defi cit. SIMF bailout package to “The mission has advised aid its struggling economy the government to urgently after a sharp slowdown in make a stronger eff ort to 25 injured in growth and with its budget narrow the fi scal defi cit and defi cit widening, offi cials put the public fi nances on a said yesterday. sustainable path,” the IMF aftershock The International Mon- said in a statement. etary Fund confi rmed the Sri Lanka’s government island nation had asked for sought an IMF bailout im- DPA assistance, but did not give mediately after taking pow- Kathmandu details on the value of a po- er in January last year but tential programme or say the fund turned down the Demonstrators shout slogans against the visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, in front of the UN head off ice whether it would grant the request, saying the coun- t least 25 people were in- in Colombo yesterday. request. try’s reserves were at a jured when a 5.5-mag- “The IMF has received a comfortable level. Anitude earthquake request for a program with It received $2.6bn from struck parts of Nepal late Fri- Sri Lanka,” the fund said in the IMF in 2009 to boost day, nine months after a major a statement from its head- its fi nancial reserves, which earthquake, police said. quarters in Washington DC. had dropped below $1bn at Police said some people were Sri Lanka enjoyed a blis- the height of fi ghting be- injured when they jumped out Lankans protest Zeid’s visit tween Tamil Tiger rebels and tering economic growth of windows as the quake hit. A rate averaging more than government forces. man who jumped from the third Reuters olution calls for post-war recon- by Sirisena saying that foreign shoes and slippers at his image. 8.0% for two years after a The IMF also said Sat- fl oor of his house was in serious Colombo ciliation and that all alleged war participation was not needed for “We will not allow to set up prolonged civil war ended urday it had warned of ris- condition. crimes be investigated and tried an impartial inquiry into the war. courts to fulfi ll the need of West- in 2009. ing debt levels saying the The injured had been taken to in special courts by international Al-Hussein began his four- ern nations. Al-Hussein has But the pace of expan- Sri Lankan government had nearby hospitals. undreds of hardline na- judges. day visit to Sri Lanka by visit- come here to take our war heroes sion has since slowed, fall- been unable to keep to its The aftershock that struck at tionalists gathered out- However, many Sri Lankans ing the UN offi ce in Colombo to to guillotine, but we won’t allow ing to 4.8% in the third budget defi cit target last 10:05 pm local time (1620 GMT), Hside the United Nations’ oppose foreign involvement and meeting UN offi cials. that to happen,” Wimal Weer- quarter of 2015, according to year and that it was unlikely as people went to sleep, threw offi ce in the Sri Lankan capital supporters of former president Hours afterwards, protesters awansa, the NFF leader told the offi cial data. to meet it in 2016. many out of their homes in the Colombo yesterday to protest Mahinda Rajapaksa believe the outside shouted “Al-Hussein, gathering. Prime Minister Ranil “These imbalances are freezing temperatures. against a visit by the UN human UN resolution aims to pun- hands off Sri Lanka” and “where Al-Hussein said soon after his Wickremesinghe told par- also set against an in- In April and May 2015 two ma- rights chief who will assess Sri ish the military unfairly despite were you when people in Af- arrival he would meet Sri Lanka’s liament last month that he creasingly less benign ex- jor earthquakes struck Nepal, Lanka’s progress in prosecuting defeating the Tamil Tigers. ghanistan and Iraq were killed?” highest offi cials as well as repre- was keen on negotiating an ternal environment,” the killing at least 8,800 and injuring alleged war crimes. Although the coalition of Some held banners which sentatives of all communities. IMF bailout to deal with the statement said. hundreds. Thousands of people in The UN says both Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena read, “no war crime courts, “I will be listening to every- fallout of a global economic “Set against such risks, Nepal continue to live in tempo- military and the Tamil Tiger has agreed to the resolution, the no foreign judges” and “don’t thing that they have to say and downturn on his country of the mission emphasised the rary shelters after they lost their rebels most likely committed visit by UN High Commissioner send the military to guillotine”. look forward to a very construc- 21mn people. urgent need for Sri Lanka homes to the earthquakes. war crimes during a 26-year war for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad They also set posters bearing tive discussion in the days to The IMF, which sent a to bolster its economic Nepal has been hit by over 420 which ended in 2009. A UN res- al-Hussein follows comments Zeid’s face on fire and threw come,” he told reporters. mission this week to review defences.” aftershocks since. Nepal looks to China Police foil bid to lay siege for tourism revival to Khaleda’s residence

IANS China is expected to be the fuel, which has been scarce in By Mizan Rahman crimes committed by Pakistani Kathmandu top tourism source market for Nepal since the closure. Dhaka forces during the Liberation War the Himalayan country due The main border district may be lessened if the number of to the opening of new consu- offi ce at Birganj said transit martyrs can be reduced.” epalese tourism entre- late general offi ce in addition resumed after local residents olice in Dhaka yesterday Suchinta Foundation chair- preneurs and stake- to the visa fee waiving policy dismantled the camp set up by foiled attempt of several man Mohammad A Arafa said Nholders have welcomed for Chinese tourists, China is an ethnic group that has been Phundred pro-liberation Khaleda has lost her right to the government’s decision to expected to be the top tourism protesting against Nepal’s new activists to lay a siege to BNP stay in Bangladesh after sid- open a new consulate general source market for the Hima- constitution. chairperson Khaleda Zia’s ing with Pakistan by raising the offi ce in China. layan country. The border blockade was a Gulshan residence protesting question about the number of The establishment of consu- “April 25 earthquake and In- pressure tactic of the Madeshi her controversial remarks about martyrs. late general offi ce in Chengdu dian blockade has crippled our activists seeking more auton- the number of martyrs in 1971 The other leaders of the Muk- in China’s southwestern Si- business. We are hopeful that omy. India closed the border Liberation War. tijoddha Sangsad Santan Com- chuan province is expected to this step will invite more and due to what it called security As per their earlier announce- mand demanded that all oth- restore Nepal’s tourism, which more Chinese tourists in the concerns. ment, activists of Muktijod- ers who distorted the history of has been hit hard by the April country,” Arun Panthi, sales At least 55 people died in dha Sangsad Santan Command the Liberation War be brought 25 earthquake and a fi ve-month manager of Alternative Des- clashes in the region since late (children of freedom fi ghters), to the book and their all assets energy crisis, Xinhua reports. tinations Travel & Tours, said. September. Most of landlocked led by its president Mehdi Hasan, confi scated. “It is a welcoming move of the Arrivals from China have Nepal’s trade goes through the started gathering at Gulshan-2 On December 21, Khaleda at government. The new consu- dropped to a four-year low of Birganj border. since 9am. a discussion forum raised ques- late offi ce in Chengdu will help 66,984 individuals in 2015, Cargo trucks began moving When they moved towards tions about the number of Lib- boosting tourism and growing down 45.89% from the previ- on Saturday, and fuel supplies Khaleda’s residence to besiege eration War martyrs. the economy. It will fl ourish ous year owing to devastating were expected to follow shortly. it, police intercepted them say- “There’re controversies over aviation business as well,” Dhiraj disaster and fuel crisis. An amendment to the con- ing they cannot allow them how many were martyred in the Shrestha, deputy sales manager Till date, Nepal has only stitution was agreed last to hold any gathering in the Liberation War. There’re also of China Southern Airlines, told two consulate general offi ces month to meet most of the de- diplomatic zone. many books and documents Xinhua on Friday. in China - Lhasa of Tibet and mands of the southern activ- Later, they moved to near- on the controversies,” Khaleda Kathmandu and Chengdu Hong Kong. ists, but the manner of drawing by Banani ground and staged had said. are regarded as geographically Meanwhile, more than a new federal state boundaries is demonstration there for a while Khaleda Zia ... target of protest over comment on martyrs The offi cial number of the 1971 closer and similar in cultural hundred cargo vehicles crossed still being contested. chanting slogans demanding Liberation War martyrs is 3mn. terms. Among the four Chi- the India-Nepal border yester- The activists vowed to con- action against Khaleda. cluded the programme there slammed Khaleda Zia for stirring Khaleda’s remarks triggered nese carriers connecting Nepal day, for the fi rst time since it tinue their demonstrations until As they began another move after a brief rally. a controversy by questioning widespread criticisms, prompt- to China, Sichuan Airlines op- was closed 135 days ago. the political dispute is resolved. to go to Khaleda’s house from Speaking at the programme, the number of Liberation War ing Supreme Court lawyer erates fl ights from Chengdu to About 70 petrol tankers They were meeting yesterday to there, police again blocked International Crimes Tribu- martyrs. Momtaz Uddin Ahmed Mehedi Kathmandu. headed into India to fi ll up with discuss their next moves. them. Later, the protesters con- nal prosecutor Tureen Afroz “She thinks the gravity of to fi le a sedition case against her. Gulf Times 26 Sunday, February 7, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed Japan needs a new strategy Production Editor: C P Ravindran

P.O.Box 2888 to meet its infl ation target Doha, Qatar [email protected] With consumer Chinese exports, employment and the scale of its QE program. world GDP. Faced with this reality, Telephone 44350478 (news), growth. To off set that danger, China’s But it is increasingly clear that markets are increasingly concerned 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) spending and average rulers unleashed an enormous credit- ultra-low short and long-term that governments and central banks Fax 44350474 earnings falling in fuelled investment boom, pushing the interest rates are not boosting nominal are running out of ammunition to debt/GDP ratio from around 130% to demand. Nor should that surprise off set global defl ation, with the only December, Japan’s 2% more than 230%, and the investment us. Japan’s experience since 1990 tools available those that simply infl ation target rate from 41% of GDP to 47%. This in teaches us that once companies feel redistribute demand among countries. turn drove a global commodity boom, overleveraged, pushing low interest But the fact is that central banks and increasingly looks and strong demand for capital-goods rates still lower has little impact on governments together never run out of out of reach imports from countries such as South their investment decisions. Cutting policy ammunition to off set defl ation, GULF TIMES Korea, Japan and Germany. Japan’s ten-year yield from 0.2% because they can always fi nance tax to 0.1%, and Germany’s from 0.5% cuts or increase public expenditure By Adair Turner At the global to 0.35% – the movements over with printed money. This is precisely London the last week – just doesn’t make a what the Japanese authorities should level, currency signifi cant diff erence to consumption do now, permanently writing off and investment decisions in the real some of the BOJ’s huge holdings of The challenges of economy. Japanese government bonds and inancial markets were depreciation is a surprised by the Bank of The BOJ’s announcement of a cancelling the planned sales-tax Japan’s recent introduction zero-sum game negative interest rate certainly did increase which, if it goes ahead Fof negative interest rates on produce a currency depreciation. in April 2017, will further depress Trans-Pacifi c some commercial bank reserves. But the inevitable consequence But a lower yen would help Japanese Japanese growth and infl ation. They shouldn’t have been. The Bank within China was wasteful exporters only if China, the eurozone Such a policy, as I set out in a of Japan (BOJ) clearly needed to take construction investment and and South Korea – all themselves paper at the IMF’s 16th Annual some new policy action to achieve enormous overcapacity in heavy struggling with defl ationary pressures Research Conference in November, Partnership deal its target of 2% infl ation. But neither industrial sectors such as steel, – do not match Japan’s rate cuts. is undoubtedly technically possible. negative interest rates nor further cement, and glass. So even though At the global level, currency And it does not, contrary to some expansion of the BOJ’s already huge service-sector expansion supports depreciation is a zero-sum game – we objections, involve commitment to Twelve countries on both sides of the Pacifi c recently programme of quantitative easing (QE) strong employment growth (with cannot escape a global debt overhang perpetually low interest rates. signed in New Zealand Trans-Pacifi c Partnership will be suffi cient to off set the strong 13.1mn new urban jobs created in by depreciating against other Rather, it is the only way by which (TPP), which is sought to liberalise trade among the defl ationary forces that Japan now 2015), the Chinese industrial sector is planets. And if multiple currencies Japan can now escape from a debt trap faces. in the midst of a hard landing. all depreciate against the US dollar, so deep that only zero interest rates participating countries and set common standards and In 2013, the BOJ predicted that Indeed, offi cial survey results the resulting impact on the US make it sustainable. cut barriers. its QE operations would deliver 2% suggest that manufacturing has manufacturing industry could slow There are no credible scenarios in TPP, which is termed as a “Big Deal”, is a trade and infl ation within two years. But in contracted for six months in a row. the American economy, undermining which Japanese government debt can investment agreement among Pacifi c Rim nations such 2015, core infl ation (excluding volatile This, in turn, has reduced demand for its import demand and thus hurting ever be repaid in the normal sense of items such as food) was only 0.5%. commodities, driving countries such the word’s exporters. Forecasts for US the word “repay”: and none in which as Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, With consumer spending and average as Russia and Brazil into recession, economic growth have been revised the bulk of the BOJ’s holdings of Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and earnings falling in December, the 2% and posing a major threat to African downward signifi cantly since the Japanese government bonds will ever Vietnam. target increasingly looks out of reach. growth. Lower industrial imports Federal Reserve’s interest-rate hike in be sold back to the private sector. The TPP aims to deepen economic ties and foster a closer The unanticipated severity of are having a major impact on many December. sooner that reality is admitted, the China’s downturn is the latest factor Asian economies as well. South Depressed equity markets and sooner Japan will have some chance relationship on economic policies and regulation upsetting the BOJ’s forecasts. But Korea’s exports fell 18% year on year falling bond yields worldwide in of meeting its infl ation targets and between these nations, slashing tariff s and fostering that slowdown is the predictable in January, and Japan’s fell 8% in January 2016 thus illustrate the stimulating total demand, rather than trade to boost growth. (and predicted) consequence of debt December. global nature of the problem we face. seeking to shift it away from other The agreement could create a new single market dynamics with roots going back to In the eurozone, annual infl ation is Demand is still depressed by the countries. - Project Syndicate, 2008. running at 0.2% – still far below the overhang of debt accumulated before something like that of the EU. Excessive private credit growth in European Central Bank’s target, and 2008. Indeed, this pre-2008 debt has zAdair Turner, a former chairman However, the deal, which is being touted as the biggest the advanced economies before 2008 German exports to China are down not gone away; it has simply been of the United Kingdom’s Financial trade agreement the world has seen in two decades, left many companies and households 4%. As a result, at its March meeting, shifted between sectors and countries. Services Authority and a former will not come into place until it has been ratifi ed by at overleveraged, and their attempted the ECB’s Governing Council may also Total global debt (public and member of the UK’s Financial Policy deleveraging after the global fi nancial consider moving interest rates further private combined) has increased from Committee, is chairman of the Institute least six of the 12 signatories representing 85% of their crisis erupted that year threatened into negative territory, or increasing around 180% to more than 210% of for New Economic Thinking. combined gross domestic product. On some measures, this trade deal is said to be the “largest ever” outside of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) - it is believed to cover 40% of the global economy. It includes superpowers such as the US and Japan, the world’s largest and third largest economies. While the monumental deal is aimed at liberalising commerce across the The TPP countries, not all of the industries and sectors deal could involved will benefi t as create a new much as others. Those in favour say single market this trade deal will unleash new economic something like growth among countries that of the EU involved. Those against - particularly some Americans - fear it could mean jobs will move from the US to developing countries. They also complain about lack of transparency in negotiations, alleging that the fi ve-year talks were held largely in secret. Most goods and services are involved, but not all tariff s - which are taxes on imports - are going to be removed and some will take longer than others. In all, some 18,000 tariff s are aff ected. For example, the signatories have said they will either eliminate or reduce tariff s and other restrictive policies from agricultural products and industrial goods. Tariff s on US manufactured goods and almost all US Commuters walking across a crosswalk at the end of the work day in Washington, DC. According to the Heritage Foundation’s 2016 Index of Economic Freedom, farm products will go almost immediately once the deal America’s economic freedom has tumbled. is ratifi ed. On trade in services, they have agreed that free trade would be quite a good thing, and in some areas, they are America’s declining economic freedom going to liberalise trade. Interestingly, two major emerging economies – By Anthony B Kim z The government takeover of As documented by the index and growth has been stymied by greater China and India, have been left out of the TPP trade The Heritage Foundation/TNS health care is raising prices and by scholars, America’s economic policy uncertainty and mounting negotiations with some experts already warning that the disrupting markets. freedom has been declining at an debt. And a disturbing trend toward zBailouts and new government alarming pace. Indeed, as The Wall cronyism has gravely eroded the rule TPP might adversely aff ect them. illions of people around regulations have increased Street Journal recently summed it of law and distorted our free-market Opponents say the deal is more about consolidation the world are emerging uncertainty, stifl ing investment and up, writing, Obama is “a champion system. of power than “fair trade.” They argue the economic from poverty thanks to job creation. when it comes to limiting economic As House Ways and Means benefi ts of the deal will go to big corporates, and not Mrising economic freedom. freedom, and American workers have Committee chairman Kevin Brady, But by sharp contrast, America’s Restoring the slow growth in jobs and wages to Republican-Texas, keynote speaker of ordinary workers in any of the participating nations. economic freedom has been declining prove it”. the offi cial release of the 2016 index, Clearly, the TPP still has many loops to jump, including over the past decade. economic freedom Not surprisingly, our economic recently stated: “It’s been almost legislative approval by all of its 12 signatories. Any TPP According to the Heritage dynamism and innovative capacity seven years since the Obama recovery deal will have to be ratifi ed by national parliaments Foundation’s 2016 Index of Economic is prerequisite have been measurably reduced. Self- began, and our economy is barely out Freedom, America’s economic infl icted wounds include: of neutral. Why does America have to and then implemented before it really starts having an freedom has tumbled. With losses of to revitalising zThe US has the highest corporate settle for this?” impact. If the previous pacts are anything to go by, the economic freedom in eight of the past tax rate in the developed world. Restoring economic freedom changes may not happen overnight. nine years, the US has tied its worst and brightening This has driven new jobs to other, is prerequisite to revitalising and score ever, wiping out a decade of more competitive nations and has brightening America’s future. The progress. America’s future meant fewer jobs and lower wages for year 2016 is the one to reaffi rm the The US has fallen from the sixth- Americans. principles of limited government, free To Advertise freest economy in the world, when This is not something to take lightly. zThe overall annual cost of meeting enterprise and rule of law so that we President Barack Obama took offi ce, to Economic freedom is the foundation regulatory requirements has increased can reconstitute an America where [email protected] 11th place in the 2016 index. of US economic strength, and by over $80bn since 2009, with more freedom, opportunity and prosperity Display America’s declining score in the economic strength is the foundation than 180 new regulations in place. In fl ourish. Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 index is closely related to rapidly rising of America’s high living standards, terms of ease of starting a new business, The time to act is now. government spending, subsidies and military power and status as a world analysed by a recently published World Classified bailouts. leader. The perils of losing economic Bank report, the US is ranked shockingly zAnthony B Kim, research manager Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 Since early 2009: freedom are not fi ctional. low, at 49th, trailing countries such as and senior policy analyst in The zGovernment spending has It is painfully clear that our Canada, Georgia, Ireland, Lithuania and Heritage Foundation’s Center for Trade Subscription exploded, amounting to $29,867 per economy has been performing far Malaysia. and Economics, is co-editor of the 2016 [email protected] household in 2015. below its potential, with individuals, No wonder the labour force Index of Economic Freedom. Readers zThe national debt has risen families and entrepreneurs being participation rate has remained at near may send him mail at The Heritage to $125,000 for every tax-fi ling squeezed by the proliferation of record lows after more than fi ve years Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved household in America - a total over big-government bureaucracy and of steady decline. NE, Washington, DC 20002; Website: $18tn. regulations. Worse, vibrant entrepreneurial www.heritage.org. Gulf Times Sunday, February 7, 2016 27 COMMENT Live issues Letters

Amusing Poor knowledge observation on Indian politics Dear Sir, Being vulnerable is key Dear Sir, After reading the letter by Kamal I was much amused to read Kamal Darmora (“Don’t focus on negative Darmora’s letter, “Don’t focus news”, Gulf Times, February 4), one on negative news” ( Gulf Times, has to conclude he has only very poor February 4). Darmora says in his knowledge about Indian politics. And letter: “During the last few decades, one would also like to advise him not to moving life forward news from India often centred on to impose his ideas and opinions on corruption and its poor leadership, others. but now that the Modi government People are intelligent enough By Barton Goldsmith make you less available to others and has almost eliminated the corruption to evaluate the credibility of their Tribune News Service less comfortable with yourself. scourge…” politicians and leaders once they get to In addition, being vulnerable allows This sentence is eligible for the know them. you to experience parts of life that “funniest remarks” of 2016. Thanks Narendra Modi had made a lot of any people think that most people only see in the movies. God, he hasn’t said that corruption promises before the election and it is being vulnerable is a Some folks can only cry and let out is already totally eliminated in India. up to people to decide how many of weakness. In fact, it takes their feelings while being moved by It seems that the writer didn’t have them have actually been fulfi lled after Mmore inner strength someone else’s story. This is why any problem if Indian news coverage he came to power. to open up and allow yourself to be going to a dark theatre and crying your centred on corruption and poor vulnerable than to shut down and eyes out is actually a healthy activity leadership for the last few decades, Mohamed Ruknuddin push your feelings or others out of - and of course you can do it at home his only wish now is that reports PO Box 21263 your life. too. on the present corruption and poor Doha Being vulnerable doesn’t mean that The important thing is to let those leadership must be swept under the you become a doormat to let people feelings that make you a whole carpet and not covered by the media! walk all over you. Being vulnerable person out for some fresh air every Can the writer explain to the vast doesn’t make you look bad either. now and then. Otherwise, you can majority of Indian readers of this Please send us Those who wear their hearts on become emotionally blocked and not paper that how and where Narendra their sleeve are more attractive to experience the fullness of being alive. Modi has almost eliminated the your letters others than people who hide their When you do allow yourself to corruption? feelings and don’t allow the deeper release pent-up pain, you make room In the election manifesto of Modi’s By e-mail meaning of any given situation or for more positive things and people to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), there [email protected] relationship to be felt. It means that come into your life. Just talking about were many sweet promises, the main Fax 44350474 your heart and head are ready to what makes you feel vulnerable is a one being that black-money abroad Or Post accept the emotions that come with great way to start. will be tracked down and brought leading a full life. Learning what your triggers are can back to India. What has happened Letters to the Editor Being vulnerable is actually a trait help you stay available to the good and to it? Gulf Times that allows you to be sensitive to still allow you to be openhearted and The BJP was very keen to call P O Box 2888 what’s going on around and within or has been traumatised. If everything strength back and not feel threatened by give yourself the gift of feeling the joy agitations against the previous Doha, Qatar you. Giving yourself the gift of makes you cry or scares you, that’s the world. But these are cases of extreme and letting go of the sorrow you have government for increasing petrol really feeling alive and present in the not normal, and you need to do what’s vulnerability and not the kind that most experienced. prices but after Modi took power, moment is a wonderful thing. And this necessary to get your life back in of us have to deal with. even as the global oil prices crashed, All letters, which are is true even if your feelings have been balance. For the rest of us, being openhearted zDr Barton Goldsmith, a petrol prices in India continue to go subject to , should hurt. You may need to get medical and trusting may sometimes lead psychotherapist in Westlake Village, up almost every day. Keeping all these have the name of the Opening up and looking for the attention, or it may just mean that to hurt feelings, which can be California, is the author of The Happy developments in mind, how could writer, address and phone reasons for your pain will help you you need to give yourself an extended unpleasant. However, it’s very Couple: How to Make Happiness one hold one’s laugh after reading number. The writer’s heal. break for a good period of time. important that you allow yourself to a Habit One Little Loving Thing at Darmora’s letter? There is such a thing as being too I know many people who have needed feel those feelings, so you can get them a Time. Follow his daily insights on name and address may be vulnerable, which happens when to take time off work or to cut back on out. Twitter at @BartonGoldsmith, or e-mail Mohamed Iqbal K withheld by request. someone is very depressed or anxious their activities, so they could get their Holding on to the pain will only him at [email protected] (Address supplied) Weather report Myopia Three-day forecast TODAY on the rise High: 25 C Low : 12 C Expetced poor visibility at places at first due to fog DPA Muncih

MONDAY High: 25 C ntensive smartphone use will Low : 17 C cause an appreciable increase in Sunny nearsightedness, which is already Ia growing problem because we so rarely use our eyes to look at the far TUESDAY distance, experts are predicting. High: 23 C Wolfgang Wesemann, director of Low : 14 C the Cologne School of Optometry, Sunny said the proportion of people in large Asian cities with nearsightedness, or myopia, had increased from 20 to Fishermen’s forecast 80% in just a few years. This rapid development can only be due to OFFSHORE DOHA Wind: SW-SE 05-15/20 KT societal changes, he said. Waves: 2-4/6 Feet “It defi nitely can’t be a genetic INSHORE DOHA development, but rather a result Wind: SE-SW 05-15/18 KT Waves: 1-3 Feet of altered living conditions,” he remarked, adding that the urban Asian Around the region way of life with too much artifi cial Weather Weather light and too little natural light also today Max/min tomorrow Max/min played an important role. Abu Dhabi P Cloudy 26/11 Sunny 29/13 To counter this in China, he said, Baghdad Rain 16/06 M Sunny 17/06 schools are being built with glass roofs Dubai Sunny 24/14 Sunny 27/16 to let in more sunlight. Kuwait City M Sunny 21/12 Sunny 20/11 Manama M Sunny 24/16 Cloudy 21/16 Muscat Sunny 27/17 Sunny 26/17 Riyadh M Sunny 27/11 Sunny 28/08 Tehran P Cloudy 16/06 Rain 08/-1

At present, about 40% of Germany’s inhabitants are nearsighted. “That number will certainly rise, however,” he said in Munich at the recent International Trade Show for Optics & Design. The proportion of nearsighted 20- to 29-year-olds is already growing. “It used to be that you became nearsighted during your school years, and there was no worsening Around the world afterwards,” he said. No more. Weather Weather In view of this, Wesemann said, not today Max/min tomorrow Max/min only should an eye examination be Athens M Sunny 14/05 P Cloudy 14/06 mandatory for a driving test, but “a Beirut Rain 14/09 P Cloudy 16/09 subsequent examination would be a Bangkok M Sunny 29/16 Sunny 28/17 good idea too.” Berlin P Cloudy 12/04 S Showers 11/06 Cairo P Cloudy 15/08 P Cloudy 17/08 Experts who attended the German Cape Town Cloudy 26/19 Sunny 31/19 Ophthalmology Society Congress in Colombo P Cloudy 32/24 S T Storms 33/24 Berlin last October also warned of an Dhaka M Sunny 28/16 Sunny 29/19 increase in nearsightedness. Sunny Sunny 16/11 Hong Kong 14/10 A common vision condition in Istanbul P Cloudy 07/01 Sunny 09/03 Jakarta T Storms 30/25 T Storms 31/25 which nearby objects are seen clearly Karachi Sunny 29/13 Sunny 29/14 but objects farther away are blurry, London Cloudy 09/07 S Showers 10/04 nearsightedness occurs if the eyeball Manila P Cloudy 29/22 P Cloudy 29/22 grows to be too long or the cornea too Moscow S Showers 01/-3 Sunny 01/-3 New Delhi S Showers 22/08 Sunny 23/09 curved - usually between the ages of New York M Sunny 09/02 Cloudy 03/-1 6 and 18, when many young people Paris P Cloudy 11/08 Rain 12/08 are virtually glued to their electronic Sao Paulo S T Storms 29/19 T Storms 31/21 devices. Seoul Sunny 03/-6 P Cloudy 07/-4 Singapore T Storms 30/26 Rain 31/26 Severe nearsightedness is Sydney P Cloudy 26/17 Sunny 26/19 considered to be a slight risk factor Tokyo ClearClear 0 9/03 Cloudy 08/01 for retinal detachment, glaucoma and cataracts. Gulf Times 28 Sunday, February 7, 2016 QATAR

Ambulance Service launches new major incident response vehicles

amad Medical Corpora- prepared for a major incident of tion’s (HMC) Ambulance any kind. In the event of a major HService (HMCAS) show- incident, the Ambulance Service cased their new major incident would provide emergency medi- response vehicles at the recent cal support as part of a multi- International Conference in agency response team.” Emergency Medicine and Public “In the event of a major in- Health. cident, the Ambulance Service These new vehicles join part of specialised team will be acti- the overall HMCAS fl eet, which vated. Each container type has includes more than 160 ambu- a variety of resources inside lances, 20 rapid response vehi- – they have been designed to cles and three helicopters re- maximise the available space sponding to more than 100,000 and are unique in the volume emergency medical calls each of supplies they can hold. For year. example the medical container Making use of specially- holds three large patient treat- designed rapidly deployable ment tents, each air-con- containers, these vehicles are ditioned and equipped with equipped with all the necessary electrical power and lighting; a requirements to deal with a ma- The new HMCAS major incident response vehicles on show at the conference. The patient treatment tent . range of medical supplies, such jor incident in their three type as ventilation units, portable confi gurations, namely: medi- to create a temporary fi eld treat- preparation for the treatment agencies in the event of a major scale event where there are more and spoke model, so they are oxygen, medical kits, stretchers, cal, decontamination and logis- ment area with a variety of air and stabilisation of patients incident involving a hazardous than 25,000 people. In addition, available if required. as well as refrigerators, solar tics. conditioned tents in which pa- by Ambulance Paramedics and material. a set of trucks will be stationed Brendon Morris, executive di- power panelling and a genera- These units would be de- tients can be treated according Critical Care Paramedics prior to The aim is to deploy these ve- at Hamad International Airport rector of the Ambulance Service, tor with a fuel tank that can be ployed by the Specialised Emer- to their clinical acuity. transferring them to one of HMC hicles to major incidents involv- in preparedness for any major said: “We believe these vehicles refi lled. This means the con- gency Management team within The units are staff ed by spe- Emergency Departments. The ing multiple casualties to assist aircraft or ground emergency at position us well, if a large-scale tainers can stay on the site of HMCAS to provide emergency cially trained crew who will medical decontamination unit Emergency Departments with the airport or off site. The other adverse event occurs. This is all a major incident for as long as medical support. The medical rapidly deploy all the neces- enables clinical teams to sup- surge capacity and decontami- units are stationed around the part of the national strategic they are required, with these vehicle contains all the resources sary shelters and equipment in port other emergency response nation, as well as to any large country, in keeping with the hub eff ort to ensure the country is sustainable power sources.” Young Qataris complete Photography award leadership programme The three-day Youth Leadership Acceleration Programme is a partnership between Commercial Bank and HEC Paris

ommercial Bank has said that 30 Qatari nation- Cals aged 16 to 19 have completed the annual “Youth Leadership Acceleration Pro- gramme”. The three-day Youth Leader- ship Acceleration Programme is a partnership between Com- mercial Bank and HEC Paris, a member of Qatar Foundation and ranked number two world- wide in Executive Education by the Financial Times in 2015. The programme’s objective is to help young Qataris to develop essen- tial leadership skills and build confi dence to consider them- selves as future leaders in Qatar. The participating students from renowned educational in- stitutions in Qatar were select- Qatari nationals aged 16 to 19 who have completed the annual “Youth Leadership Acceleration Programme” with senior Commercial ed on the basis of high leader- Bank executives. Gulf Times’ senior ship potential, and among these photographer Jayan were relatives and friends of Kerbache, Dean & CEO of HEC resource is its people and the which can only strengthen our designing and implementing a Orma has won the second Commercial Bank’s customers. Paris in Qatar, senior faculty Youth Leadership Acceleration client relationships.” training and skills development prize in the Saud Al-Thani HEC Paris delivered this members from HEC Paris, and Programme is a demonstration Kerbache said: “As a member programme for the young lead- Photography Award in the year’s Youth Leadership Ac- the students’ proud families. of Commercial Bank’s dedica- of Qatar Foundation, our ac- ers of tomorrow. worldwide general section in celeration Programme for the Speaking at the closing cer- tion to developing this resource tive participation in the Youth “I, therefore, wish to thank the colour prints category. fourth consecutive time, indic- emony, Commercial Bank CEO for a sustainable future, not only Leadership Acceleration Pro- our staff at HEC Paris and the Working with Gulf Times ative of the success of previous Abdulla Saleh al-Raisi said: in terms of initiatives for our gramme is a clear manifestation students for their energy and since 1998, Orma’s entry programmes. “Through Commercial Bank’s own employees but for the wider of our commitment to positive- enthusiasm that has made these pertained to an abseil Attending the programme’s National Development Pro- Qatari community too.” ly contribute towards the devel- past three days productive and worker cleaning a high-rise closing ceremony in Tornado gramme, we are investing signif- Al-Raisi added: “I am also de- opment of a knowledge-based inspirational. I look forward in the West Bay area of Tower were members of Com- icantly in the skills and training lighted for all the participants economy in Qatar. Through this to continuing our successful Doha. He has won many mercial Bank’s Human Capital of young Qataris as part of our of the relatives of Commercial opportunity provided by Com- partnership with Commercial photography awards during senior team headed by Hamad active drive to develop human Bank’s valued customers who have mercial Bank as their partner in Bank and our work towards de- his photo journalistic career al-Shekili, acting Chief Human capital in line with the National completed this year’s Youth Lead- the programme, we have been veloping the leadership skills of with Gulf Times. Capital Offi cer; Prof Laoucine Vision 2030. Qatar’s greatest ership Acceleration Programme, able to provide our expertise in young Qataris.” Entertainment centre QU programmes for Sport Day

atar University (QU) tar’s leaders, and their belief Sports and Recreation in sports’ core role in building QSection in the Student the community and ensuring Activities Department has its development and progress. launched its celebrations for It also shows CCQ’s commit- National Sport Day. ment to encouraging students The activities headlined to participate in this annual “Sports Bring Us Together” are event, and highlighting the im- organised in collaboration with portance of daily physical exer- the Ministry of Municipality cise for the health and welfare of and Environment, Community society.” College of Qatar (CCQ), and Katara Operations deputy Katara. They include a series general manager Ahmed al- of sporting and fi tness events Sayed said “Katara is keen on QU campus and at Katara to diversify and increase the to promote sports and healthy sports and events of National lifestyles. Sport Day with over 80 events. The programme will include They are presented by more a number of sport-related and than 40 entities and institu- recreational activities such tions across Qatar targeting all as yoga, zumba, strength and age groups. They include ma- conditioning, and bubble ball rine and aerial activities, ath- games, at QU Sports and Rec- lete games, basketball, soccer, reation Female Section. This and beach handball, as well as will run alongside the pro- health tips and medical check- A games console at Megaplois, a newly-opened entertainment gramme at Katara that will fea- ups”. centre in Medina Centrale at the Pearl-Qatar. It is the “first ture a March Competition for According to an offi cial from complete family entertainment centre of its kind”, according kids (1km) and adults (2.5km), One of the activities at QU in the previous edition of National Sport Day . the Ministry of Municipal- to company off icials. The 6,000sqm facility off ers a wide a skydiving show by a QU team, ity and Environment, the event range of games and indoor activities in addition to a number and maritime activities such as Abdulla al-Yafei, associate are proud to participate in this promoting community aware- highlights its commitment to of restaurants. Speaking to Gulf Times yesterday, Alexander volleyball and football. A side- vice president, Student Life and national event that refl ects the ness on adopting sports, fi tness encouraging and motivating its Trager, assistant general manager of operations at Megapolis, line exhibition featuring two Services, QU said: “QU is dem- country’s growing reputation as and nutrition.” staff and their families and the said the centre aims to provide perfect entertainment for all information booths will engage onstrating the importance of a a sporting capital. This is part of CCQ president Dr Ibrahim wider community in general to family members at one place. PICTURE: Nasar T K visitors on sportive and healthy healthy society in the country’s QU’s commitment to strength- Saleh al-Naimi said: “This practise sports in their everyday lifestyles, fi tness, and nutrition. development and progress. We ening links with the society and event refl ects the vision of Qa- life.